Harnessing lignocellulosic waste for energy storage and generation for off-grid rural areas

In developing countries, there is constant concern regarding ways to achieve a sustainable socioeconomic growth in a dynamic, globalized environment. This is a multifaceted problem which is so complex that conventionally it is addressed inappropriately, due to the conflict between economic, technical, and social objectives. Studies have indicated that one of the limiting factors for rural development is related to energy access. In this study, a robust methodology is proposed, based on complementary experimental approaches, so as to produce biochar and assess biomass energy storage capacity. As a case study, Colombian grape crop waste was investigated, in order to identify its capacity for energy storage and generation, by means of pyrolysis. Raw materials were analyzed through proximate and ultimate analyses, higher heating value, thermogravimetry, and morphology analysis, using petrographic examination. Results showed that raw materials had a high level of variance in physicochemical properties. Biochar was produced from grape waste through the devolatilization process, at both 600 and 800 °C, in a tubular reactor. The biochar produced through pyrolysis was characterized by higher energy storage capacity and low property variance. Finally, using these experimental results, the biomass was assessed for electric power generation. It was found that waste from one hectare could produce power for approximately four families. This investigation demonstrates the importance of performing various experimental analyses in order to evaluate and understand the energetic potential of lignocellulosic waste. It is believed that this approach produces valuable insights, which are useful for appropriate system process designs, and operations for energy production from lignocellulosic waste.