Crop residues can make a significant contribution to the energy sector in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to identify the availability and spatial distribution of crop residues and their energy potential through the creation of a Geographical Information System (GIS) model. This information is important to the successful utilisation of these residues. In addition, a GIS tool was created that automates the resource estimation process for the purpose of identifying potential biomass energy plant sites. This study was conducted considering six provinces: Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, Eastern, Central and Coast. The Rift Valley Province was selected as the case study for model tool creation and the crops considered in the study were maize, wheat, rice and sugarcane. The study was a quantitative one entailing the collection of secondary data in the form of crop production statistics and spatial data which comprised population, land use and road shape files and analysis using GIS. Residues to Product Ratios were used to estimate the amount of crop residues while Lower Heating Values assessed the energy potential. Moreover, ArcGIS Model Builder was used to create the GIS model tool for the feasibility of a potential biomass energy plant. The results of this study indicated the amount of crop residues that can be generated in Kenya to be about 7,384,600 tonnes with an energy potential of approximately 124,300 TJ/year. Rift Valley Province was found to have the highest residue generation of about 3,866,000 tonnes with a corresponding energy potential of about 64,800 TJ/year. The GIS model showed that the Rift Valley Province and Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, and Nandi districts all had the potential for high residue generation resulting from their high agricultural production and high yields. The modelling tool was also able to demonstrate the increase in the amount of crop residues that can be collected using different radii around a potential biomass plant. The main conclusion was that crop residues have a high potential for energy generation in Kenya. In addition, a GIS model tool was created for Rift Valley Province which can be transferred to any other region, in order for the local energy planners to supply the model with their own parameters to obtain locally based results.

No description available.

Lignocellulosics (LC) are the most abundant and under-utilised renewable resource of energy in the world. The present study is concerned with finding alternative uses to LC as an animal feed using environmentally friendly technologies. The major biological constraint for using LC is related to the low accessibility of cell wall polysaccharides to both cell-free and microbial enzymes. This can only be overcome by some type of processing. This study emphasises the use of physical (steam) and biological (enzymic) treatments. Results have shown that both low (LT) and high temperature steam treatment (HT) are efficient methods for solubilising hemicellulosic sugars and depolymerising lignin. However, HT leads to higher losses of both sugar and dry matter. Higher improvement in fibre bio-availability was obtained with HT and yet, this effect was more evident from enzymic hydrolysis data compared to rumen fermentation. LT can be used for upgrading LC since exogenous chemicals are added. HT showed to be an attractive alternative for producing animal feed and substrate for enzymic saccharification without requiring chemicals. The effects of steam treatment on fibre physical structure were particularly important. Greater effect was noticed under HT in combination with rapid decompression. It was suggested that rapid decompression should be avoided in the context of animal feeding. Experiments on toxic compounds indicated that furans have negligible toxicity to rumen micro-organisms. Phenolic compounds, however, are potentially toxic and can affect the pattern of rumen fermentation, gas production and adhesion of bacteria to substrate.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-227). Also available via the Internet.

No description available.

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In the United Sates and around the world, electric power plants are among the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change argued was the main cause of climate change and global warming. This dissertation explores the factors which may induce electricity producers to use biomass fuels for power generation and thereby mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. Analyses in this dissertation suggest that there are two important factors which will play a major role in determining the future degree of bioelectricity production: the price of coal and the future price of carbon emissions. Using The Forest and Agricultural Sector Optimization Model—Green House Gas version (FASOMGHG) in a case study examining the competitiveness of crop residues, this dissertation finds that crop residues currently cost much more than coal as an electricity generation feedstock because they have lower heat content and higher production /hauling costs. For them to become cost competitive with coal, the combined costs of production and hauling must be cut by more than half or the coal price needs to rise. In particular, for crop residues to have any role in electricity generation either the price of coal has to increase to about $43 per ton or the carbon equivalent price must rise to about $15 per ton. The simulation results also show that crop residues with higher heat content such as wheat residues will have greater opportunities in bioelectricity production than the residues with lower heat content. In addition, the analysis shows that improvements in crop yield do not have much impact on bioelectricity production. However, the energy recovery efficiency does have significant positive impact on the bioelectricity desirability but again only if the carbon equivalent price rises substantially. The analysis also shows the desirability of cofiring biomass as opposed to 100% replacement because this reduces haling costs and increases the efficiency of heat recovery. In terms of policy implications, imposing carbon emission restrictions could be an important step in inducing electric power producers to include biofuels in their fuelmix power generation portfolios and achieve significant greenhouse gas emission reductions.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S. in environmental engineering)--Washington State University, May 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 21, 2009). "Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-91).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-186). Also available via the Internet.