Biomass Energy

 Biomass:

This is an energy produced through the process of chemical reactions by organic waste, whether of plant or animal origin.

The intention of the use of these gases is to replace or lessen the excessive use and dependence of fossil fuels. This thanks to the fact that biomass reduces the production of CO2 and depending on the waste, the decrease in environmental impact is to a greater or lesser extent.

This Biomass is also used to produce biofuel, such as alcohol, methanol, oils, and other technologies, for this reason the biomass is responsable for more than 7.9% of the total production of renewable energies in the world. With respect to Guatemala the percentage total renewable production is about 31.73% and of that percentage, approximately more than 75% is to produce solid biofuels. All this data thanks to IRENA.



Since 2010 the biomass production is not only stable but it has also increased, being mostly produced by the ICA who use:

  • Sugarcane bagasse
  • Agricultural waste sugarcane harvest (Rac)
  • Wood chip
  • Macadamia shell
  • Rice husk
  • African palm rachis, Other
Agro-industrial wastes are generally used as fuels for the generation of thermal energy in steam boilers. In Guatemala, 13 sugar mills cogenerate electricity with cane bagasse biomass. Steam is used in the sugar manufacturing process.
Cane bagasse is the main fuel for cogenerators, being then considered the main biofuel in the country. This has an average relative humidity of 50%, which means that half of the biomass content is water, while the other is vegetable fiber. Relative humidity is important as it influences combustion. The use and distribution of electrical energy in each mill is different. At the Magdalena mill, for example, a part of the electricity produced is injected into the mill at a voltage of 12.5 kV for internal uses, while the other part is injected into the national interconnected system at 69 kV.


Some of the most commonly biofuels created and used in Guatemala:

Ethanol
Since ethanol, based on its chemical formula, can be used as a mixture with gasoline to reduce the polluting properties of gasoline, and at the same time increases the calorific value and octane number; the proportion of this mixture E10 and 90% gasoline, which simplifies the adaptation. Ethanol is created from the fermentation of sugars that come from plant sources. In general, the sugar that is fermented is a hexose (six carbons) called sucrose, present in sugar cane; but it can also be found in other crops such as beets or corn.

Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a liquid fuel composed in its highest percentage of fatty acid alkyl esters obtained from vegetable oils or animal fats.
The physicochemical characteristics of biodiesel are determined by the fatty acid composition of the vegetable oil used as raw material in the transesterification reaction.

Biogas:
Biogas is a gaseous fuel produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic waste that can come from animal manure, sanitary reeds or any other type of organic material in the fermentation process.
Anaerobic digestion is a natural process of decomposition of organic matter carried out by microorganisms in four stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis.
Biogas is a gaseous fuel produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic waste that can come from animal manure, sanitary reeds or any other type of organic material in the fermentation process.
Anaerobic digestion is a natural process of decomposition of organic matter carried out by microorganisms in four stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis
There is only 3 main industrial plants: InBio, Gabiosa, Mag Alcohols. With approximately between 1 and 5 MW of power generation which is sold and introduced to the country's electrical grid.


Sources:

International Renewable Energy Agency. (s. f.). Renewable Energy Sources. IRENA. Consulted September 30th, 2020. https://www.irena.org/

University Rafael Landivar. Guatemala energy profile. Bases for understanding the current state and trends of energy. (2018). Consulted September 30th, 2020. http://www.infoiarna.org.gt/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Perfil-Energetico-de-Guatemala.pdf

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