12.1 Introduction
The world’s energy requirement is mostly satisfied through the use of fossil fuels.
The use of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) is a problem because the burning of
these fuels in industry, transport, and the generation of electricity release carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ), an important greenhouse gas. Fossil fuel combustion releases about
21.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide per annum into the atmosphere. Nevertheless,
only about half of the carbon dioxide emissions is absorbed by the natural sequestration processes leaving behind 10.65 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide,
which is indeed a cause of concern (USDoE 2007). CO 2 is one of the principal GHG
responsible for the rise in global warming and thus an increase in average surface
temperatures of the earth (Prasad et al. 2014). The unrestricted use of these fossil
fuels is unsustainable due to the determinate supply and unequal distribution of
reserves, coupled with anthropogenic global warming resulting from increasing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Tan et al. 2013). Besides this, non-renewable
energy resource use also lead to adverse effects, especially climate change, which
makes it questionable for further usage (Prasad et al. 2014). Growing concerns with
regard to climate change, finite energy resources, and dire need for low-carbon
growth drive the transition from non-renewable fossil fuel-based energy to renewable bioenergy (Sadik et al. 2010; Prasad et al. 2019a, b).
Climate change and global warming associated with the anthropogenic activity
are recognized as one of the most considerable threats to the long-term future of the
human being (IPCC 2014; Prasad et al. 2014). The global average atmospheric
carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in 2018 was 407.4 ppm by volume, having risen from
pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm (Lindsey 2018). In the 1960s, atmospheric CO 2
global growth rate was roughly 0.6 Æ 0.1 ppm/year. Over the past few decades, the
CO 2 growth rate has been closer to 2.3 ppm/year. As a greenhouse gas (GHG), CO 2
in the atmosphere traps the sun’s heat, and as a consequence, global average
temperatures continue to rise, otherwise known as global warming. According to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average global
temperature has been increased by about 1.4
F (0.8
C) over the past 100 years. One
of the most significant immediate and visible impacts of global warming is the
increase in temperatures, rapid melting of glaciers, permafrost, and sea ice around
the world.
Since record-keeping began in 1895, the hottest year on record worldwide was
2016, according to NOAA and NASA data. The reduction of CO 2 emissions would
be the most effective way to address climate change. However, figuring out an
alternative to deal with climate change threat is an herculean task. An alternative to
fossil fuel use demands a holistic approach which integrates “scientific, technical,
economic, social, and political elements” (Royal Society 2009). In this context,
renewable energy resources particularly the biomass energy and wind energy are
considered as an important long-term solution. Also the technological developments
across the world provide ample scope for tapping the renewable resources. In the
present day, the focus is to maintain the reliability of energy supply, to make ardent
effort to reduce the carbon emissions from energy sector, built environment, and
268
S. Prasad et al.
The world’s energy requirement is mostly satisfied through the use of fossil fuels.
The use of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) is a problem because the burning of
these fuels in industry, transport, and the generation of electricity release carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ), an important greenhouse gas. Fossil fuel combustion releases about
21.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide per annum into the atmosphere. Nevertheless,
only about half of the carbon dioxide emissions is absorbed by the natural sequestration processes leaving behind 10.65 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide,
which is indeed a cause of concern (USDoE 2007). CO 2 is one of the principal GHG
responsible for the rise in global warming and thus an increase in average surface
temperatures of the earth (Prasad et al. 2014). The unrestricted use of these fossil
fuels is unsustainable due to the determinate supply and unequal distribution of
reserves, coupled with anthropogenic global warming resulting from increasing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Tan et al. 2013). Besides this, non-renewable
energy resource use also lead to adverse effects, especially climate change, which
makes it questionable for further usage (Prasad et al. 2014). Growing concerns with
regard to climate change, finite energy resources, and dire need for low-carbon
growth drive the transition from non-renewable fossil fuel-based energy to renewable bioenergy (Sadik et al. 2010; Prasad et al. 2019a, b).
Climate change and global warming associated with the anthropogenic activity
are recognized as one of the most considerable threats to the long-term future of the
human being (IPCC 2014; Prasad et al. 2014). The global average atmospheric
carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in 2018 was 407.4 ppm by volume, having risen from
pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm (Lindsey 2018). In the 1960s, atmospheric CO 2
global growth rate was roughly 0.6 Æ 0.1 ppm/year. Over the past few decades, the
CO 2 growth rate has been closer to 2.3 ppm/year. As a greenhouse gas (GHG), CO 2
in the atmosphere traps the sun’s heat, and as a consequence, global average
temperatures continue to rise, otherwise known as global warming. According to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average global
temperature has been increased by about 1.4
F (0.8
C) over the past 100 years. One
of the most significant immediate and visible impacts of global warming is the
increase in temperatures, rapid melting of glaciers, permafrost, and sea ice around
the world.
Since record-keeping began in 1895, the hottest year on record worldwide was
2016, according to NOAA and NASA data. The reduction of CO 2 emissions would
be the most effective way to address climate change. However, figuring out an
alternative to deal with climate change threat is an herculean task. An alternative to
fossil fuel use demands a holistic approach which integrates “scientific, technical,
economic, social, and political elements” (Royal Society 2009). In this context,
renewable energy resources particularly the biomass energy and wind energy are
considered as an important long-term solution. Also the technological developments
across the world provide ample scope for tapping the renewable resources. In the
present day, the focus is to maintain the reliability of energy supply, to make ardent
effort to reduce the carbon emissions from energy sector, built environment, and
268
S. Prasad et al.