BY KEN YOUNG Biomass in Belize

What is Biomass? Organic material from plants and animals Wood, charcoal, biofuel, and everything in-between Used as energy through combustion, either directly or after conversion to another form

How biomass works

Sources of biomass Byproducts of agriculture (most importantly, bagasse: leftover plant matter from sugar cane pressing) Byproducts of agriculture (most importantly, bagasse: leftover plant matter from sugar cane pressing) Byproducts of construction/idustry Byproducts of construction/idustry Biomass crops Biomass crops Cleared forests Cleared forests Yard clippings Yard clippings Animal waste Animal waste Human waste Human waste Landfills Landfills

Uses for biomass Electricity  Energy from combustion heats water into steam  Turbines generate electricity for an electrical grid  Requires a constant supply of biomass for reliable energy production Heat  Biomass, usually as wood or charcoal, used for home heating and cooking Biofuel  Mostly used for transportation  Include alcohols, methane, biodiesel

Advantages of biomass energy Carbon neutral (with good practices) Free of other pollutants (with good practices) Sustainable (with good practices) Minimizes existing waste disposal issues Affordable for individuals Lowers fixed costs for industries Creates domestic jobs Minimizes dependence on foreign energy

Disadvantages of biomass energy Encourages deforestation Deforestation is unsustainable, carbon positive, and leads to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity Without tight emissions standards, creates toxic pollutants Can drive up food prices through competition for land Water requirements for growing crops

Biomass in the big picture Four main energy sources in Belize:  Fossil fuels: 75.5%  Biomass: 22.7%  Hydro: 7.4%  Imported electricity: 4.4% When we take a closer look at electricity:  Hydro: 45.9%  Imported from Mexico: 27.6%  Biomass: 14.1%  Fossil fuels: 12.1% Electricity costs cents per kWh in Belize (compare: 12 cents per kWh in the US) A 60 watt light bulb takes 16.7 hours to use one kWh

Energy outlook in Belize Four “strategic elements:”  Improve energy efficiency and conservation by 30% by 2033  Reduce dependence on fossil fuels by 50% by 2020  Triple the amount of energy carriers derived from agricultural, forestry, and fisheries production and processing, including municipal solid waste, by 2020  Build the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities ability to strengthen its energy portfolio, increase funding and personnel, undertake studies and audits, and raise public awareness

Energy outlook continued… What these strategic elements mean for biomass development:  Sustainable harvesting of biomass in Belize could be as high as 790,908 tons  Assuming a bias toward transportation, this could be as high as 1.4 million barrels of biofuel by 2033 from sustainable waste streams  That would be enough biodiesel for a 2012 Volkswagen Passat to circle the earth 76,154 times  First priority is to treat all effluents from livestock, industry and human waste by 2020, due to sensitive marine ecosystems

Specific developments Small, community-based biofuel facilities:  Viable 5-10MW  Useful for converting local wastes into energy  Creates jobs and wealth within communities Gasification technology in rice factories:  Converts rice husks into biogas on site  Eliminates costs and environmental concerns of husk disposal  Lowers costs associated with buying/transporting butane

Specific developments continued BELCOGEN bagasse project:  Completed in 2009, and provided 106 GWh to BEL  Largest private investment ever made in Belize ($63 million)  Generates electricity by burning 92 % bagasse and 8% oil  Electricity is produced near the Belize Sugar Industries, to minimize transportation costs  Electrostatic precipitators and other state-of-the-art filtration remove ash, black carbon, and other pollutants from the exhaust

BELCOGEN Bagasse Project

Bibliography f renewable-energy-in-belize/ choices/renewable-energy/how-biomass-energy- works.html factbook/fields/2175.html 1/the-price-of-electricity-in-your-state