An Assessment of Biomass Feedstock and （评估生物质原料和）.pdf

SSTANFORD UNIVERSITYTANFORD UNIVERSITY Global Climate Energy Project Technical Assessment Report An Assessment of Biomass Feedstock and Conversion Research Opportunities GCEP Energy Assessment Analysis Spring, 2005 Abstract Biomass is a solar energy resource with the potential to be a significant contributor to an energy portfolio with low greenhouse gas emissions. One quarter of the global land biomass production of approximately 65 TW is already appropriated by humans, but much of this total is left to decay naturally. Agricultural and forest product residues can provide a biomass energy conversion feedstock without increasing land requirements. Including crops grown specifically for energy conversion, the biomass resource is estimated to be about 10-15 TW, though serious land and freshwater use considerations exist. These feedstocks can be combusted, gasified, biologically digested, or fermented depending on the composition of the fuel and the desired energy carrier product. Research opportunities include improvements in the photosynthetic efficiency and nutrient requirements of energy crops, biomass-tailored thermochemical conversion systems, and genetic engineering of microorganisms for more efficient biological conversion and the efficient production of hydrogen directly from sunlight. Issued by the Global Climate and Energy Project Table of Contents Foreword 3 Introduction 4 Part I: The Biomass Resource 5 The Biomass System 5 Bioma