AN OVERVIEW OF HYDROGEN FUEL FROM BIOMASS GASIFICATION - COST EFFECTIVE ENERGY FOR DEVELOPING ECONOMY

Hydrogen has the potential to be a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuel especially if it is produced from renewable sources such as biomass. Gasification is the thermochemical conversion of biomass to a mixture of gases including hydrogen. The percentage yield of each constituent of the mixture is a function of some factors. This article highlights various parameters such as operating conditions; gasifier type; biomass type and composition; and gasification agents that influence the yield of hydrogen in the product gas. Economic evaluation of hydrogen from different sources was also presented. The hydrogen production from gasification process appears to be the most economic process amongst other hydrogen production processes considered. The process has the potential to be developed as an alternative to the conventional hydrogen production process.