Baseline Study Report on CQ of WAB final - International ...

1. Introduction
1.1 Background
Biomass is a broad term, which generally refers to any plant or animal matter. The main
categories of biomass are; agricultural residues, forestry wastes, animal wastes, wood as well
as cellulosic urban wastes. Almost 43 percent of the energy used by the third world countries
is derived from biomass. Over 2.4 billion people in the world are totally reliant on biomass
fuels for their energy needs. About 88 percent of the total energy consumed in Nepal at
present is supplied by biomass. In a plant body during the process of photosynthesis, the
sun’s energy converts water and carbon dioxide into organic matter. About 3.0 x 10 21 J of
energy is stored in 2 x 10 11 tonnes of organic matter produced annually by photosynthesis.
Yet only 14 percent of the world’s energy comes from biomass.
Billions of tons of waste agricultural biomass are generated every year particularly in
developing countries where in many cases agriculture continues to be the main economic
activity. Waste agricultural biomass includes all leaves, straw and husks left in the field after
harvest as well as hulls and shells removed during the processing of crop at the mills. The
single largest category of crops is cereals. Wheat, rice, maize, barley, and millet and sorghum
account for approximately 28%, 25%, 27% 10% and 6% respectively of these crops. The
main waste biomass are wheat residue, rice straw and husk, barley residue, maize stalks and
leaves, and millet and sorghum stalks.
Use of waste agricultural biomass as a fuel is considered to be carbon neutral because plants
and trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it while they grow. Burning
waste agricultural biomass returns this sequestered carbon dioxide into atmosphere. Growth
of new crops, plants and trees keeps the atmosphere’s carbon cycle in balance by recapturing
carbon dioxide.
Developing and implementing programmes for converting waste agricultural biomass into
useful energy/material requires comprehensive data on present and anticipated waste
situations, supportive policy frameworks, knowledge and capacity to develop plans/systems,
proper use of environmentally sound technologies, and appropriate financial instruments to
support its implementation.
Society for Environment and Economic Development Nepal (SEED Nepal) has been
established to provide solutions for preventing industrial and urban pollution; providing
better working environment, and improving the quality of life for women and disadvantaged
group. SEED Nepal in association with the Madhyapur Thimi Municipality (MTM) and with
the support of UNEP, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE), International
Environmental Technology Center (IETC) has planned to implement a demonstration project
on "Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into Resource". This study report is only a part
of the project.
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