Biomass gasification: challenges, processes, and obstacles

It is present on the seminar on Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development at University of Science and Technology of Hanoi USTHGasification is now positioned as a relevant sector for biomass conversion into heat, electricity or biofuels. Targeted applications and the nature and availability of biomass guide technological choices towards fixed bed, fluidized beds, or entrained flow reactors. However, these processes are still facing technological barriers that hinder the development of gasification and biomass energy in general. The severe constraints in terms of gas quality and lack of flexibility in the type of biomass are the main obstacles faced by developers, constructors and operators that prevent a significant expansion of gasification technologies.The proposed presentation will initially address the principle of gasification and the challenges it represents in terms of biomass conversion into useful energy. Then, some relevant types of reactors and stakeholders will be presented. And finally, the main technological barriers will be described and stock will be taken of the progress made in gasification for the different applications stated

A critical look at rice husk gasification in Cambodia: Technology and sustainability

International audienceIn recent years, many Cambodian enterprises have installed rice husk gasifiers to substitute diesel in the electricity production to run rice mills machinery, or to provide electricity for villages. This study provides a critical look at rice husk gasification by assessing the sustainability of deploying this technology in Cambodia, expressed through environmental, economic and social impacts, and evaluates if it can be applied in Vietnam. Results show that gasification technology works in Cambodia and contribute to the development of the rice-milling sector, however environmental issues are severe and should be treated. We observe that increase in rice husk demand also leads to increase in price of rice husk, therefore new investors should consider the effect of new rice husk market for their activities. We conclude that this technology would not be suitable for Vietnam and suggests studying other alternative technologies to convert rice husk into energy, such as steam engine or steam turbine, gasifier stove, briquetting or co-firing