Citation

Knutson, J. and G. E. Miller, Agricultural residues (biomass) in California… factors affecting utilization. University of California, Cooperative Extension, Leaflet 21303, 1982.

Abstract

Biomass as an energy source has great potential. Pilot plant and commercial furnace, incinerators, gas producers, pyrolysis plants, and methane digestors have successfully demonstrated that energy production is possible from agricultural wastes. Cotton gin waste, walnut shells, almond shells, orchard prunings, and peach pits are now being converted to energy to provide process heat for commercial processing plants; some of these conversion techniques generate electricity and sell the excess to utility companies. Several manufacturing companies are producing biomass furnaces designed to use straw, cord wood, and wood chips as an energy source for crop dying.

While some of California's agricultural residues will be used as an energy source, the total quantity will be dependent on solving problems of transportation, handling, storing, and energy conversion techniques related to specific residues. The price of energy will also play a major role in development of conversion schemes.

Crop residue will not replace fossil fuel as a major energy source for California. The residues discussed in this report would supply approximately 100 percent of the energy required for California agriculture if they were converted to energy at 85 percent efficiency. That amounts to 5.7 percent energy consumed in California in 1972. While crop residue is not "the" answer to our energy problem, it can be a very important portion.

Country, State, District, etc.

United States, California

Language

English

Material

rice straw, general

Use category

energy production