Novel Approaches on Renewable Biomass-Based Energy Source for a Changing World

Abstract

Biomass as an energy source for the millions of under-privileged families in rural and semi-urban settings in India and over a large part of the World remains an ever-present necessity that remains acknowledged only in scholarly publications. Modern solutions for the combustion applications even when available are allowed to remain without adoption. This has resulted in attempts to deal with commercial applications as well as larger scale drying of perishables with novel techniques for fast drying while preserving the quality of dried products as approaches to make waste biomass use valuable to the society. This article provides a very brief history of improved cook stove development and dissemination both of fixed and portable forms with further evolution of fan-based technologies—batch and continuous combustion modes aimed at higher combustion efficiency and lower emissions. The role of biomass quality that has remained unaddressed all along will be discussed with solution strategy for production and commercial supply of solid fuels. That biomass fraction of urban solid waste is largely a renewable biomass source and can be treated to obtain quality biomass-based fuels for societal use is discussed in some detail and is argued to be a continuous source of supply of fuels to meet the energy demands.