THE FUTURE 261
The role of wood and forestry residues in terms of energy production is as old as fire itself and in many societies wood is still the
major source of energy. In general, biomass can include anything
that is not a fossil fuel that is bioorganic-based (Lucia et al, 2006).
There are many types of biomass resources that can be used
and replaced without irreversibly depleting reserves and the use
of biomass will continue to grow in importance as replacements
for fossil materials used as fuels and as feedstocks for a range of
products (Narayan, 2007; Speight, 2008). Some biomass materials
also have particular unique and beneficial properties that can be
exploited in a range of products including pharmaceuticals and
certain lubricants.
Biomass represents a potentially large economic resource is effectively being thrown away. For example, the straw associated with
the wheat crop in often ploughed back into the soil, even though
only a small proportion is needed to maintain the level of organic
matter. Thus, a huge renewable resource is not being usefully
exploited since wheat straw contains a range of potentially useful
chemicals. These include the following:
1. Cellulose and related compounds that can be used for
the production of paper and/or bioethanol
2. Silica compounds which can be used as filter materials, such as those necessary for water purification
3. Long-chain lipids that can be used in cosmetics or for
other specialty chemicals.
For example, primary biomass feedstocks are thus primary biomass that is harvested or collected from the field or forest where it
is grown. Examples of primary biomass feedstocks currently being
used for bioenergy include grains and oilseed crops used for transportation fuel production, plus some crop residues, such as orchard
trimmings and nut hulls, and some residues from logging and forest operations that are currently used for heat and power production. In the future, it is anticipated that a larger proportion of the
residues inherently generated from food crop harvesting, as well
as a larger proportion of the residues generated from ongoing logging and forest operations, will be used for bioenergy (Smith, 2006).
Additionally, as the bioenergy industry develops, both woody and
herbaceous perennial crops will be planted and harvested specifically for bioenergy and product end uses.
The role of wood and forestry residues in terms of energy production is as old as fire itself and in many societies wood is still the
major source of energy. In general, biomass can include anything
that is not a fossil fuel that is bioorganic-based (Lucia et al, 2006).
There are many types of biomass resources that can be used
and replaced without irreversibly depleting reserves and the use
of biomass will continue to grow in importance as replacements
for fossil materials used as fuels and as feedstocks for a range of
products (Narayan, 2007; Speight, 2008). Some biomass materials
also have particular unique and beneficial properties that can be
exploited in a range of products including pharmaceuticals and
certain lubricants.
Biomass represents a potentially large economic resource is effectively being thrown away. For example, the straw associated with
the wheat crop in often ploughed back into the soil, even though
only a small proportion is needed to maintain the level of organic
matter. Thus, a huge renewable resource is not being usefully
exploited since wheat straw contains a range of potentially useful
chemicals. These include the following:
1. Cellulose and related compounds that can be used for
the production of paper and/or bioethanol
2. Silica compounds which can be used as filter materials, such as those necessary for water purification
3. Long-chain lipids that can be used in cosmetics or for
other specialty chemicals.
For example, primary biomass feedstocks are thus primary biomass that is harvested or collected from the field or forest where it
is grown. Examples of primary biomass feedstocks currently being
used for bioenergy include grains and oilseed crops used for transportation fuel production, plus some crop residues, such as orchard
trimmings and nut hulls, and some residues from logging and forest operations that are currently used for heat and power production. In the future, it is anticipated that a larger proportion of the
residues inherently generated from food crop harvesting, as well
as a larger proportion of the residues generated from ongoing logging and forest operations, will be used for bioenergy (Smith, 2006).
Additionally, as the bioenergy industry develops, both woody and
herbaceous perennial crops will be planted and harvested specifically for bioenergy and product end uses.