Industrial Uses of Biomass Energy : The Example of Brazil

Industrial Uses of Biomass Energy demonstrates that energy-rich vegetation, biomass, is a key renewable energy resource for the future. Brazil, uniquely, has a recent history of large-scale biomass industrial uses that makes it a specially important test-bed both for the development of biomass technology and its utilisation, and for understanding how this is shaped by political and socio-economic forces. The book analyses the cause for this and the alternatives. It is argued that Brazil's experience with the development for industrial biomass use provides wider lessons and insights in the context of the international movement for sustainable economic development. This book is an interdisciplinary, multi-author work, based upon a recently completed international study by Brazilian and British experts and will prove a valuable reference to all those working in this field This Book Demonstrates That Energy-rich Vegetation, Biomass, Is A Key Renewable Energy Resource For The Future. However, Bioenergy Still Faces Many Barriers Stemming From Economic, Institutional And Some Technical Factors. These Are Explored In This Comprehensive And Accessible Book, Using Brazil As An Example. It Provides A Global Overview Of Biomass Energy And Indicates Future Directions. Students And Professionals From A Range Of Disciplines, Including Environmental Science, Energy Management, Biotechnology And Development Studies Will Find This Multidisciplinary Volume Offers A Complete Picture Of The Issues Currently Surrounding The Use Of Biomass, Along With Likely Developments For The Future.--jacket. 1. Overview Of Biomass Energy / David O. Hall, Jo I. House And Ivan Scrase -- 2. Energy From Biomass In Brazil / Sergio Valdir Bajay, Eliane Bezerra De Carvalho And Andre Luis Ferreira -- 3. The Potential Contribution Of Technology Assessment To Bioenergy Programmes / Harry Rothman And Andre Furtado -- 4. Assessment Of Externalities And Sustainability Issues / Ausilio Bauen -- 5. Sugar-cane Culture And Use Of Residues / Oscar A. Braunbeck And Luis A.b. Cortez -- 6. Sugar-cane Industrial Processing In Brazil / Isaias De Carvalho Macedo And Luis A.b. Cortez -- 7. Pulp And Paper / Sergio Valdir Bajay, Mauro Donizeti Berni And Carlos Roberto De Lima -- 8. Production And Use Of Industrial Charcoal / Frank Rosillo-calle And Guilherme Bezzon. Edited By Frank Rosillo-calle, Sergio V. Bajay, Harry Rothman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book shows that energy-rich vegetation, biomass, is a key renewable energy resource for the future. Most major energy scenarios recognize bioenergy as an important component in the future world's energy outlook, both in developed and developing countries. Brazil, uniquely, has a recent history of large-scale biomass industrial use that makes it a specially important test-bed both for the development of biomass technology and its utilization, and for understanding how this is shaped by political and socio-economic forces. Perhaps their most famous development was PROALCOOL, the national program for producing fuel for the nation's automobiles from alcohol derived from sugar, as a substitute for gasoline. But other sectors of the Brazilian economy traditionally, and presently, use biomass as a major energy source. The book analyzes the causes for this and the alternatives. Finally, it is argued that Brazil's experience with the development of industrial biomass use provides wider lessons and insights in the context of the international movement for sustainable economic development.This book is an interdisciplinary, multi-author work, based upon a recently completed international study by Brazilian and British experts at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Planning -- NIPE, State University of Campinas -- UNICAMP, and the Department of Life Sciences at Kings College, University of London Biomass currently supplies about one-third of the developing countries' energy-varying from about 90 per cent in countries like Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, to 45 per cent in India, 30 per cent in China and Brazil, and 10-15 per cent in Mexico and South Africa. This book demonstrates that energy-rich vegetation, biomass, is a key renewable energy resource for the future. However, bioenergy still faces economic, institutional and some technical barriers and these are explored in this text