By;

Surendra Bam

1. Energy and its Linkages

2. Sources of Energy in Nepal

3. Sources of Biomass Energy

4. Application of biomass energy technology 5. Some facts about biomass energy promotion in Nepal6. Benefits of biomass energy7. Conclusions

8. Recommendations

Presentation Outline:

1.Energy and its Linkages Energy is essential for development and per

capita energy consumption is often seen as an indicator of economic status and well being.

Nepal’s per capita energy consumption at 15GJ is one of the lowest in the world and more than 90 percent of the energy is consumed in the residential sector, indicating the low use of the energy economic development related activities.

Besides being indicator for economic development, household energy also has multiple linkages with important social issues poverty, gender, environment and health.

FIGURE 1: Multiple Negative impacts of Inefficient Household Energy Use

2. Sources of Energy in NepalIt is estimated that 50 percent of the world’s

populations are still at the bottom of this energy ladder as they use solid biomass fuels such as fuel wood, dung and agriculture residues.

The situation is worse in Nepal as 85 percent of Nepal’s population depend on the solid fuels for cooking.

Of the total energy consumed in Nepal, it is estimated that about 75percent comes from fuelwood and about 9.5percent comes from agricultural residues and dung, while only about 2 percent come electricity and renewable energy sources.

FIGURE 2.1: Energy Ladder

where, x=Increasing cleanliness, convenience and cost of fuel

Y= Improving socioeconomic condition

Animal dung, agro & forest

residues

Wood

Charcoal

Kerosene, coal

LPG, natural gas

ElectricityX

Y

75.79

9.24

5.74

3.753.53

1.470.48

Fuel wood

Petroleum

Animal waste

Agricultural Residue

Coal

Electricity

Renewables

FIGURE 2.2: Pie chart showing sources of energy in Nepal

Source: Economic Survey 2006-07 (values given in %)

3. Sources of Biomass EnergyBiomass energy is defined as energy from plant and animal

origins such as woody biomass (stems, branches, and twigs), non-woody biomass (stalks, leaves, grass), agriculture residue (rice husk, straw), oil seeds, industrial residue (molasses) and animal and human faces.

The main sources of biomass energy that are currently in use in

Nepal are fuelwood, cattle dung and agricultural residues. Other potential biomass energy sources in Nepal are: - oil bearing plants such as Nageshwor or Mesua ferrea (77%

oil), and Sajiwan or Jatropha curcass (45-56% oil) which can be used to produce biodiesel.

- resin from pine trees, which can be used to produce bio-hydrocarbon.

- molasses from sugar industry that can be used to produce ethanol.

- organic waste that can be used to produce briquettes or biogas.

Energy Crops

Harvesting, Collection, etc.

Preparation Transportations Storage

Thermo-Chemical Conversion Physical Conversion Bio-Chemical Conversion

Pyrolysis Gasification Pressing ExpellingAlcohol fermentations

An-aerobic digestion

COMBUSTION

POWER HEAT

Charcoal Producer Gas Briquette Liquid biofuel Ethanol Biogas

Sources of Biomass Energy

Organic WasteIndustrial By-productsAgro & Forest Residues

FIGURE 3.1: Sources of biomass energy

4. Application of biomass energy technologyThe following processes can be used to process

biomass resources into different forms:Thermo- chemical conversion- In this process,

biomass is burned in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis) to from char or partially burned in a gasifier to produce a combustible gas.

  Bio-chemical conversion- This process includes digestion of biomass in aerobic conditions to produces biogas in aerobic or fermentation to produce ethanol.

  Physical conversion- By applying physical pressure, biomass may be densified, as in the case of briquettes, or expelled to extract oil from plants. The extracted oil may be treated to remove heavy particles.

5. Some facts about biomass energy promotion in Nepal•Direct use biomass in various types of improved cook stoves (ICS) and processing of biomass in household biogas plant has been found to be very promising technologies and have been promoted extensively by various organizations, including AEPC/ESAP.

• ICS and Biogas were introduced in Nepal in the 1950s and currently there is well established system for promoting these technologies through the coordinated effort of government, local bodies, NGOs, private sector and community groups.

•Currently more than 200,000 households have installed ICS and more than 160,000 households have installed biogas plants in Nepal.

6. Benefits of biomass energy•Reduction in deforestation

•Reduction in indoor air pollution and hence smoke- related diseases

•Reduction in women’s drudgery and cooking time

•Improved sanitation from better management of animal dung and human faeces

•Improvement in soil fertility because of the use of slurry from biogas plant as biofertilizer

•Reduced dependence on chemical fertilizer

•Reduction in green gas emissions

•Contributions to local economy, through better utilization of local resources

•Preventions of fire hazards

•Cleaner kitchen environment

Benefits contd….

7. Conclusions:

• Because biomass continues to be the main source of energy in Nepal and use of biomass is often associated with major environmental problems such as deforestation and indoor air pollution, there is urgent need to introduce and popularize technologies that will make use of these of the energy resources more efficient, convenient, and cost effective and environment friendly. This requires further research and development as well as promotional activities.

•Consider these numbers: one Nepalese model reduces CO2 by 4.7 tons per year and the trade-in for 1 ton is up to $10.

• Using the stated fact that Nepal has now commissioned their 100,000th biogas plant they would have made as much as $4,700,000 per year from the trading of reduced CO2.

Conclusion Contd….

8. Recommendations:•Nepal is faced with a double-edged sword when dealing with the issue of energy.  The amount of fuel wood is diminishing while the demand for more energy is increasing.  Eventually, there will be a time when Nepal’s resources are gone.  Alternate methods of deriving fuel and energy will be necessary in the near future.  Biogas is one of the more efficient ways of supplying energy resources to Nepal.

•  Biomass systems release next to nothing as far as carbon dioxide and the Kyoto Protocol would make it possible for Nepal to trade CO2 emissions to countries that release too much of it. 

The Kyoto Protocol is an issue that is still being debated.  In order for this to go into effect, the nations that account for more than 55% of the emissions have to be approved.  As the situation now stands, the United States is at a stand still and is not concerning themselves with the subject.  Therefore, Nepal must place their hope in other countries that have high emission rates such and Russia and Japan.  These countries are not in any hurry to approve the Kyoto Protocol, but it seems that they are more ready to approve than the US. 

Recommendations Contd…

This..

Or, This….

Use Safa Tempoo

Use Compost Manure

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