Challenges of Biomass

Cost

Not cost effective Required large amount of $ for invention

Technology

Lack of operation skills Feedstock transformation is too specific Planning is difficult

Challenges of Biomass Energy

Policy

Poor relationship linkage between actors and intermediates Not regulated

Challenges of Biomass
1. Competence with low cost fossil fuels -the cost of biomass energy is more expensive than fossil fuel 2. Financial Barriers -usually required large financial support for generating a new bioenergy system. -investment on biomass and researches are costly

3. Technology Issues - Limited long term pilot demonstrations - R&D needs to improve performance/ efficiency - Lack of widely available engineering design firms, technical assistance, tech transfer

4.Feedstock availability and cost -the material used for biomass is waste products. Large amount of waste product can only convert into limited energy.

5.Lack of Institution Skills -seldom research on biomass therefore it is hard to use effectively and economically. -Variety of effects often under-estimate

6.Incentives for bio-based energy are limited, too specific, not uniformly available -one feedstock can only transform into one specific type of bioenergy.(eg. Methane Biofuel.) 7.Poorly informed investors and consumers -not attractive to investor from private sector

8.Lack of qualified workforce -limited reliable data -lack of database, regular information

9.Low priority and a limited attention at a policy level -not regulated, not organized between high no. of intermediate and producer. -low market opportunities

Technical Barrier in Biomass Conversion

1)Enzymatic-Microbial Conversion
(i) Pretreatment -inhibitor will be generated during the pretreatment and thus reduce the yield. -complete access of cellulose is hard (ii)Hydrolysis -slow reaction rate -inadequate yield

(iii)Biochemical Fuel Synthesis -byproduct and fuel synthesis products are toxic to the microbes -lack of natural process -lack of value-added product

2)Thermal and Inorganic Catalytic Conversion

(i) Gasification -not cost-effective -small scale -high cost of catalyst required and ash accumulation -low catalysis selectivity and short lifetime -insufficient clean-up of catalyst at high conversion efficiency

(ii) Pyrolysis -High oxygen and acid content in product -instability of prduct bio-oil -hydrogen reactant that required is expensive -corrosion occurs -inadequate yield, selectivity and stability of catalyst

(iii) Aqueous Phase Reforming -unreliable technology -inadequate yield, selectivity and stability of catalyst

Conclusion
To promotes the application and sustainable uses of Biomass, we should have: Technology and Skills Transfer Efficient supply chain of biomass supplier Improve Planning activities Form adequate managing committee and responsible authority R&D Create price-effective market for biomass

References
1. K.C. Das, T. T. Adams and E. D. Threadgill. Biorefining and Carbon Cycling,Research, Technology Transfer, and Education. The University of Georgia. 2. Prof. Zhongyang Luo. (2010). The Opportunity and Challenges of Biomass Energy in China,China Energy and Environmental Research Group. 3. Position paper on biomass for the ACP-EU Energy Facility,Biomass Position Paper. 4. Biomass Conversion