Residual Biomass Use for Energy Generation

Residual biomass from agricultural produce can be used to generate energy in various forms, as well as chemicals. Availability for residual biomass across Mexico from various crops is presented in this chapter using a Geographic Information System (GIS) that allows to pinpoint this availability at the municipal level, as well as considering several restrictions to be imposed to adequately select sites to install processing facilities. Agave, barley, maize, pecan nut, rice, sugar cane, sorghum, and wheat were the crops selected due to its large producing volume in Mexico. Base processing technology is biomass gasification, with sub-stoichiometric air or with steam, to render a synthesis gas to be further processed. Secondary processing technologies assessed are: direct combustion to generate electricity and refrigeration (through combustion turbine and steam turbines), producing Fischer-Tropsch liquids, or producing ammonia or urea or methanol. Proposing the specific processing sites throughout Mexico and concluding that producing in some facilities electricity and Fischer-Tropsch liquids is a combination that has adequate profit.