Hydrogen will be one of the critical assets in the energy stream in the coming decades for the sustainable development of society. The abundant availability of hydrogen and its application in electricity production using fuel cells without any harmful emissions makes it distinct. It can be produced from renewable and sustainable resources, thus promising an eco-friendly solution for the energy transition in the coming years.
Currently, hydrogen production using the electrolysis of water is most preferred. However, hydrogen production can vary in the range of sectors. Hydrogen can be used in electricity production, biomass, solar and wind power application.
Despite its advantages, two significant issues hinder its commercialisation and generalisation as an efficient fuel, and energy transition toward zero-emission and fossil-free energy solutions. The first is hydrogen is an energy vector, which means hydrogen needs to be produced before its use and eventually lead to energy consumption in hydrogen synthesis. The second is the low volumetric energy density of hydrogen, which leads to hydrogen storage and transportation issues because of its lowest volumetric energy density (0.01079 MJ/L)
Researchers have suggested several solutions to attempt to increase this value:
compression in gas cylinders;
liquefaction in cryogenic tanks;
storage in metal-hydride alloys;
adsorption onto large specific surface area-materials
chemical storage in covalent and ionic compounds (viz. formic acid, borohydride, ammonia)
Applications of Hydrogen
The hydrogen applications are in the food industry to turn unsaturated fats and oils present in vegetable oils, butter into a saturated state. In the metal forming industry, atomic hydrogen welding is used as an environmentally sustainable welding process. In the manufacturing industry, hydrogen and nitrogen are used to create a boundary and prevent the oxidation of metals.
The recent advancements in hydrogen applications in the steel manufacturing industry are one of the most significant hydrogen applications for low or zero-emission iron ore conversion.
The potential use of hydrogen can play a vital role in reducing greenhouse emissions and the global target of achieving a minimal no emission target by 2050. However, the automotive industry is still the largest consumer and most attractive sector in the current scenario. But with the future forecast of reducing hydrogen fuel cost can do wonders with the goal set during Paris Climate Summit.
Hydrogen use in stationary and automotive applications, such as fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen refuelling stations above all, has shown to be hindered by its volumetric energy density – the lowest among all the standard fuels nowadays used. Compression seems to be the most efficient solution to reach high storage levels, thus making hydrogen more common as a renewable and sustainable fuel.
The availability of several hydrogen compression technologies makes the development of new innovative and environmentally-friendly solutions for the use of energy possible, leading to a transition towards a fossil fuel divestment and making a critical contribution to sustainable development
Solar energy has experienced a remarkable surge in popularity and demand in recent years for several compelling reasons. First and foremost, it is clean and renewable. With growing concerns about the environmental impact of traditional energy sources, solar power offers a sustainable alternative. Secondly, it is seen as a practical and accessible option for meeting energy needs. Lastly, it allows individuals and businesses to reduce their reliance on the traditional grid and volatile energy prices.
As the industry continues to thrive and expand, so should the businesses within. SEO plays a pivotal role in their promotion and growth in the online area. Implementing many optimization tactics and techniques helps them establish their strong online presence and stay ahead of the competition.
As you may have caught from the title, in this guide, we will discuss specifically keyword research practice. Let’s dive in! We will explore the best keywords for solar SEO, explain how to find them, and highlight strategies for their usage that help your company succeed in the digital landscape.
Grasping the Importance of Keyword Optimization
Whether resorting to SEO for solar panel manufacturers’ services from Seo.Solar agency or implementing the practice on your own, you ultimately receive a plethora of benefits for your company. Particularly, by utilizing the right keywords strategically, you can enhance your website’s visibility in search engine results, increase organic targeted traffic, and, finally, drive more qualified leads.
Conducting Keyword Research
The foundation of an effective keyword optimization strategy lies in comprehensive research. We have come up with several steps that will help you find the best keywords for your company.
Step 1: Performing Industry Analysis
You can begin by understanding the market and identifying key industry-specific terms. These could include “renewable energy” and “solar panels.” Conduct deep market research and always stay updated on the latest sector trends and developments to uncover relevant options in time.
Step 2: Investigating Your Competitors
Next, proceed to analyze your competitors’ sites. It is helpful for discovering the keywords they are targeting successfully.
You may use tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs to assist you in determining their top-ranking terms and phrases and estimating their organic traffic. By having a clear idea of your competition, you can pinpoint possible gaps and opportunities to generate residential solar leads.
Step 3: Looking for Long-Tail Keyword Variants
Incorporating long-tail keywords can also be an advantageous tactic. Simply put, they are long search queries with a small number of searches per month. What does make them such a great option to pay attention to? Apart from the fact there are lots of them, they are:
more specific;
usually have lower competition;
generally easier to address.
Examples of long-tail keywords could be something like “residential panel installation” or “panel financing options.” These kinds of keywords allow you to target a niche audience actively seeking specific services.
Step 4: Finding Local Keywords
According to Google statistics, more than 70% of users who seek local businesses nearby visit one within 24 hours. On top of that, almost 30% of those searches result in a purchase. Hence, if your company operates in specific locations, optimizing for local queries can help attract customers from your target region.
For instance, “solar installation in [city name]” or “best solar companies in [state]” can be valuable options for local SEO. This type of optimization lets you effectively capture clients within your service area and establish your enterprise as a trusted local provider.
Table with the Best Keywords
Overall, researching target words and phrases is a time-consuming practice. Therefore, we have gathered the table of the finest options to use for your business with the search volume for each.
Keyword
Volume
solar panel installation
19000
solar panels for sale
14000
buy solar panels
2300
buy solar panel
1600
cheap solar panels
1200
solar power installers
1200
solar panel for sale
700
solar panel suppliers
700
sale solar panels
600
buy solar panels for home
600
where to buy solar panels
600
solar panel home installation
500
purchase solar panels
450
local solar installers
400
solar panel installers
400
solar panel purchase
350
solar panel sale
350
cheap solar panels for sale
350
solar panel installers near me
350
solar energy installer
350
solar panel installation near me
350
solar panel installer
350
solar panels sale
300
solar system installers near me
300
discount solar panels
250
solar panels sales
250
panel solar for sale
250
solar panels on sale
250
buy solar panels online
200
solar panels installers
150
solar energy installers near me
150
solar panels installer
150
solar power installer
100
Keyword Implementation Strategies
Once you have identified a list of relevant keywords, it is essential to implement them strategically across your website. Here are some key areas you can focus on.
Website Content
Develop informative, high-quality content around your target keywords. Create dedicated pages or blog posts addressing common questions and concerns about alternative energy sources.
For instance, you can write articles on “benefits of renewable energy,” “how panels work,” or “cost-saving tips for installation.” By providing valuable and unique content, you position your company as an authority and attract organic traffic.
Meta Tags
Also, consider optimizing your meta title and description by incorporating your primary keywords. This helps search engines understand the relevance of your web pages.
For example, a meta title could be “Alternative Solutions: Harness the Power of Renewable Energy | [Your Company Name],” while the corresponding meta description could highlight your benefits, offerings, or geographical presence. Well-optimized meta tags improve your click-through rates and overall search engine visibility.
URL Structure
Apart from meta tags, ensure that your URLs are also SEO-friendly and include relevant keywords. For instance, if your webpage focuses on residential panel installation, a suitable URL structure could be “yourcompanyname.com/residential-installation.” Clean and descriptive URLs enhance the user experience and assist search engine bots in understanding your page content.
Header Tags and Alt Text
Furthermore, you can incorporate selected keywords in your header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to improve the organization and structure of your content. In addition, optimize image alt text by adding relevant words and terms. Crawlers consider this information when indexing images. All in all, if the content is well-structured, it helps search bots comprehend its hierarchy and relevance.
Internal Linking
Integrate internal links within your website content to connect related pages. Much like headers and alt texts for the content, this enables search engines to establish the relevance and hierarchy of the web pages, thus improving overall SEO efforts. Internal linking also contributes to better user navigation and encourages visitors to explore more of your company’s products and services.
Tracking Performance
Monitoring the performance of your targeted keywords is critical to refining your SEO strategy. Utilize special analytics tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track keyword rankings, organic traffic, and user behavior on your website. Regularly evaluate your performance and make necessary adjustments to your promotion plan to boost rankings and draw more qualified traffic to your platform.
Staying Current with the Evolving Landscape
Search engine algorithms and user search behavior constantly evolve. It is essential to adapt your SEO strategies accordingly. Keep yourself informed about the latest optimization trends, algorithm updates, and emerging technologies in your industry. Regularly review and revise your keyword strategy to ensure its effectiveness in driving organic traffic and generating leads.
Additionally, leverage emerging technologies like voice search and mobile optimization to stay ahead of your rivals and reach a broader audience.
Final Say
With a well-crafted approach, your business can shine brightly in the web realm, attracting a steady stream of qualified leads and driving long-term success. Stay proactive, keep optimizing, and watch your company soar to new heights of online success!
Sugar industry has always occupied a prominent position in the Mauritian economy since the introduction of sugarcane around three centuries ago. Mauritius has been a world pioneer in establishing sales of bagasse-based energy to the public grid, and is currently viewed as a model for other sugarcane producing countries, especially the developing ones.
Sugar factories in Mauritius produce about 600,000 tons of sugar from around 5.8 million tons of sugarcane which is cultivated on an agricultural area of about 72,000 hectares. Of the total sugarcane production, around 35 percent is contributed by nearly 30,000 small growers. There are more than 11 sugar factories presently operating in Mauritius having crushing capacities ranging from 75 to 310 tons cane per hour.
During the sugar extraction process, about 1.8 million tons of Bagasse is produced as a by-product, or about one third of the sugarcane weight. Traditionally, 50 percent of the dry matter is harvested as cane stalk to recover the sugar with the fibrous fraction, i.e. Bagasse being burned to power the process in cogeneration plant. Most factories in Mauritius have been upgraded and now export electricity to the grid during crop season, with some using coal to extend production during the intercrop season.
Surplus electricity is generated in almost all the sugar mills. The total installed capacity within the sugar industry is 243 MW out of which 140 MW is from firm power producers. Around 1.6 – 1.8 million tons of bagasse (wet basis) is generated on an annually renewable basis and an average of around 60 kWh per ton sugarcane is generated for the grid throughout the island.
The surplus exportable electricity in Mauritian power plants has been based on a fibre content ranging from 13- 16% of sugarcane, 48% moisture content in Bagasse, process steam consumption of 350–450 kg steam per ton sugarcane and a power consumption of 27-32 kWh per ton sugarcane.
In Mauritius, the sugarcane industry is gradually increasing its competitiveness in electricity generation. It has revamped its boiler houses by installing high pressure boilers and condensing extraction steam turbine. All the power plants are privately owned, and the programme has been a landmark to show how all the stakeholders (government, corporate and small planters) can co-operate. The approach is being recommended to other sugarcane producing countries worldwide to harness the untapped renewable energy potential of biomass wastes from the sugar industry.
Biomass gasification involves burning of biomass in a limited supply of air to give a combustible gas consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane, water, nitrogen, along with contaminants like small char particles, ash and tars. The gas is cleaned to make it suitable for use in boilers, engines and turbines to produce heat and power (CHP).
Biomass gasification provides a means of deriving more diverse forms of energy from the thermochemical conversion of biomass than conventional combustion. The basic gasification process involves devolatization, combustion and reduction.
During devolatization, methane and other hydrocarbons are produced from the biomass by the action of heat which leaves a reactive char.
During combustion, the volatiles and char are partially burned in air or oxygen to generate heat and carbon dioxide. In the reduction phase, carbon dioxide absorbs heat and reacts with the remaining char to produce carbon monoxide (producer gas). The presence of water vapour in a gasifier results in the production of hydrogen as a secondary fuel component.
There are two main types of gasifier that can be used to carry out this conversion, fixed bed gasifiers and fluidized bed gasifiers. The conversion of biomass into a combustible gas involves a two-stage process. The first, which is called pyrolysis, takes place below 600°C, when volatile components contained within the biomass are released. These may include organic compounds, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, tars and water vapour.
Pyrolysis leaves a solid residue called char. In the second stage of the gasification process, this char is reacted with steam or burnt in a restricted quantity of air or oxygen to produce further combustible gas. Depending on the precise design of gasifier chosen, the product gas may have a heating value of 6 – 19 MJ/Nm3.
Layout of a Typical Biomass Gasification Plant
The products of gasification are a mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen and various hydrocarbons, which can then be used directly in gas turbines, and boilers, or used as precursors for synthesising a wide range of other chemicals.
In addition there are a number of methods that can be used to produce higher quality product gases, including indirect heating, oxygen blowing, and pressurisation. After appropriate treatment, the resulting gases can be burned directly for cooking or heat supply, or used in secondary conversion devices, such as internal combustion engines or gas turbines, for producing electricity or shaft power (where it also has the potential for CHP applications).
China has recently emerged as one of the economic powerhouses of the world. Not only does this status continue to redefine what was considered to represent a somewhat “backwards” society, but plenty of employment opportunities await. This has also given rise to several interesting trends. From the growing number of Chinese classes online which cater to foreign migrants to increased international investment, the future does indeed look bright.
It is also important to mention how China has begun to capitalise upon innovative solutions in the hopes of reducing the impacts of climate change. One interesting example can be seen in the use of bioenergy as a viable substitute for traditional fossil fuels. What are some current trends to note and are there any challenges that will need to be addressed in the coming years?
Promising Statistics
Many readers will be surprised to learn that up to 80 per cent of raw biomass materials are now being used to generate power throughout China. Considering the population of this nation, it only stands to reason that such sources of energy abound. Furthermore, the implementation of biomass will help to reduce China’s reliance upon outside nations. This provides a much-needed economic boost and promises an impressive long-term return on investment (ROI).
Such a pronounced trend is at least partially due to a younger Chinese generation that has now become well aware of their role in stemming the effects of climate change. Another undeniable benefit is the simple fact that bioenergy now represents a niche employment sector; providing plenty of opportunities for those with the appropriate skill sets.
What Challenges Await?
While all of the observations outlined above are rather promising, we also need to remember that there are some downsides attributed to biomass in relation to energy production. One potential issue involves industry competition as well as to decide how the resources themselves should be allocated. Wealth distribution could also come into play considering the role that corruption may play in terms of profit margins.
As this summary highlights, another possible sticking point could instead involve operational challenges including:
Other problems such as retooling existing factories in order to support biomass energy production can be rather complicated and expensive.
So, what might the future of bioenergy in China have in store? Most experts agree that relying upon fossil fuels alone as a source of electricity is no longer a viable option. So, it stands to reason that the Chinese government is looking carefully at how biomass can be used as an alternative. Officials also appreciate that many other nations have already curtailed their use of fuels such as coal and natural gas.
The main takeaway point here is that much like any other emerging industry, bioenergy is associated with undeniable advantages as well as some logistical challenges. Still, China should be able to rise to the occasion with planning and foresight.
Clean, clean, and increasingly competitive energy sources are renewable energies. They are most diverse, abundant, and usable in every area of the world, but above all, because they neither create greenhouse gas, cause climate change, nor emit harmful emissions. They do not produce greenhouse gases.
In addition, their costs decrease, whereas the average trend in fossil fuel costs, notwithstanding its current volatility, is in the other direction. One of the most important problems of today’s world is the transfer to renewable energy. According to the IEA, energy has to be decarbonized four times quicker than previously to cut emissions substantially by 2040.
More international firms are using sustainable practice as they begin to recognize that the climate problem is affecting them most significantly.
Top Renewable Energy Companies
The damaging emissions that our current fossil fuel energy sources generate will only continue to rise without any attempt to rely on renewable energy sources – clean, emission-free, and naturally replenished sources. Reducing these emissions is essential if carbon levels are to be reduced and climate change consequences reduced.
Huge advancement in environmentally-friendly power development requires an interest in the organizations that foster these advances, which range from sun-oriented and wind capacity to hydropower, biofuels, and geothermal energy.
Here is the list of top renewable energy companies from across the world:
1. Tbhawt
Tbhawt Manufacturing OÜ is an Estonia-based wind turbine manufacturing company that projects and develops microgrids. A microgrid is a small self-balancing energy system that can be disconnected from main power lines to operate autonomously and further be reconnected back to them.
Microgrids usually involve different types of energy generation such as solar panels, small and large wind turbines, heating units, etc. Nikolai Grebenkine, the Project Coordinator at Tbhawt Manufacturing OÜ, comments, “At Tbhawt, we pay attention to environmental safety and will do our best to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in wind turbine production.
Subsequently, we will cut down our product’s carbon footprint. We also apply the best technologies on all stages of operation and production, excluding the risk of failures or scams due to human error.”
2. Kohl’s
Each year since 2009, in its annual Green Power Partnership Top 30 Retail rating, EPA has therefore ranked Kohl’s department stores as the country’s leading green retailer. 1.001 of its 1,160 stores in 49 countries are certified to Energy Star, and the company reports that 163 sites have solar panels on-site.
Kohl’s is dedicated to this sustainable, renewable resource. To that aim, the technological development of solar energy continues to make it more efficient than renewables.
The business has been buckling down on carbon-impartial activities, and it was the principal US store related to EPA to set up a carbon-unbiased target. It accomplished the 2010–2014 Net Null Emission Object and was poised to accomplish it again in 2015.
3. CropEnergies
CropEnergies has its headquarters in Mannheim, Germany, and is a prominent ethanol and other biofuels producer that is “renewable” since they derive from maize or different vegetable life. They don’t have the same “clear” rating as the wind or solar rating as the ethanol burns in cars but burns considerably cleaner than fossil fuels.
The renewable energy firm produces bioethanol from sustainable raw materials and raw ethanol from wheat, maize, barley, triticale, and syrup10. CropEnergies has manufacturing sites in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and France, with a combined capacity of 1.3 million cubic meters of bioenergy.
4. First Solar Inc
First Solar, Inc. is a solar panel manufacturer in the United States, as well as a provider of PV power plants and related services such as financing, installation, maintenance, and recycling of used panels.
First Solar (FSLR) is a business that produces solar energy. It develops and produces photovoltaic solar power systems and modules. The firm manufactures solar modules that turn sunlight into power using thin-film semiconductor technology. First, Solar services consumers all around the world.
First Solar delivers leading eco-efficient photovoltaic systems in the market that generate less environmental effect at a reasonable cost. First Solar realizes that water scarcity affects millions of people. That is why, since 2009, we have lowered our per-watt production of water by over 30%. Contrary to traditional sources of energy and CSPs, while operating the first solar modules, water is not required to produce electricity.
5. Electrobras
Electrobras is the largest electric corporation in Latin America and one of the world’s largest enterprises, with its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 12 This creates a large quantity of low carbon power consumption, with 92 percent of its energy produced by low carbon emissions.
Its main power form is hydropower, which provides over 45,000 MW of overall production. 13. The firm runs interconnecting systems across South America in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Brazil’s leading electric transmission business with approximately half of the country’s basic network in high and high-voltage transmission lines.
6. Hanergy Thin Film Power Group
This flexible power company with its headquarters in Beijing is famous for its technology: thin-film power. This technique is in the field of solar energy, with the production of thin-film solar cells putting ultra-thin PV film layers on plastic or metal.
Since 2009, Hanergy has used this technology for solar panels. It was a hydroelectric firm previously. 15. Its extremely elastic thin and lighted panels may be employed in a number of ways, including in automobiles, aircraft, and farming. In fact, Hanergy cooperated with Tesla Motors in various locations in China to build photovoltaic overload stations.
Conclusion
These company titans show remarkable leadership in combating the climate problem. They carry the burden of inexpensive, clean energy for our lives and economies. Too frequently, doubt and pessimism struck the area of renewable energy, and its expansion in certain nations halted as a result of unfavorable government policies.
But such enterprises illustrate how renewable energy may help preserve the world, both profitably and sustainably. They will play a major part in the creation of a new energy economy, together with many other emerging firms.
This pandemic has been a huge wake-up call for both the society and our industries. Everyone, from huge manufacturers to the common person, is finally beginning to choose environment-friendly options. We have slowly but eventually come to understand the importance of our individual roles in saving the planet. Leading companies and industries are figuring out ways on how to decarbonize their global energy systems in the most efficient ways possible. If we achieve 100% decarbonization in our global energy systems, which, as of now, seems like a complex task, the results can be momentous.
Let us begin by understanding what do we mean by decarbonization of global energy systems. In layman terms, it refers to a decrease of carbon emissions per unit of primary energy. In order to reach this benchmark, there has to be a shift in 3 major domains of the energy systems:
Structural Change
Technological change
Change in the Economic structure
To save maximum energy that is derived from fossil fuels, we see that there is deep electrification of all sectors of the economy, from air conditioners, cars, buses to food production, everything is being electrified. So, is this the way to achieve 100% carbonization? The answer to that is complex. Electrification can largely contribute to achieving net-zero emissions, but other ways, including decarbonization services would play a crucial role.
Let’s take a look at some prominent solutions on how to decarbonize the future:
1. Increased Digitization
To get a hold of environmental deterioration, the first step is to switch energy sources and change energy consumption patterns. The world is drastically transitioning to renewable energy sources from the use of fossil fuels.
In the industrial sector, decarbonizing energy systems can be a reality only if the decision-makers become mindful of their responsibilities and actions. It is imperative for them to adopt technically advanced decarbonization solutions based on extensively researched data. They can even collaborate or partner with other companies to leverage robust decarbonization services and solutions.
2. Low-Carbon Electricity
Low-carbon electricity is the way of the future. It requires reduced dependence on fossil fuels like coal and oil and increasing the use of renewable energy sources. These sources include solar, hydro, and wind. They capture energy from natural sources like the sun, water and wind from wind turbines. Since none of them emits carbon, they are the best way forward in the process of decarbonization and an answer to ‘how to decarbonize’.
The cost of alternative energy systems has dropped sharply in recent years
3. Introduction of Artificial Intelligence
Even though the concept of artificial intelligence is still in progress, it carries the potential to change the face of almost every sector of our society. It will gather and provide insights into more data, bringing the companies’ carbon footprints under purview.
AI’s capabilities can turn out to be extremely profitable for gigantic organizations since their size allows them access to massive data sets, automatically speeding the decarbonization process.
4. Partnering With Digital Ecosystems
Decarbonization, as an idea, is dynamic in nature. Hence, the field goes through a minor evolution from time to time, coming up with new technologies, concepts, and methodologies. It is nearly impossible for a person to track and apply all these changes.
Diverse service providers are coming up with a plethora of decarbonization services and facilities. Finding an appropriate technology partner is the quickest method to meet decarbonization targets in the most competent way possible.
Bottom Line
The decarbonization of energy sector requires a lot of planning, data collection, research, and organization. To make the project successful, one has to seek expert advice from service providers that share your vision and understand your need for change. So, avail of exceptional decarbonization services to speed up your project for a better future.
With the rise of the global population, energy consumption needs are also increasing. Despite being the major supplier for energy consumption, the demand for fossil fuel is in decline and consumption fell by 9% in 2020. It will continue to decline as new electricity consumers seek more sustainability.
Because of its increased availability, renewable energy will continue to rise in popularity. Its contribution to electricity generation is expected to increase in the years to come. Also, now that the depletion of the world’s fossil fuels is increasingly becoming a reality, there is a much greater drive to switch to renewable energy sources. This heightened motivation could very well be what will start the process of reversing the damage from fossil fuel energy generation. As people become more environmentally conscious, the demand for renewable energy will significantly be different in the years ahead.
Can you grow a business from renewable energy?
The influence of renewable energy now is different from when it was first introduced commercially in 1927. A lot of consumers nowadays have shown interest in the technologies that could provide green energy. Because of the constant environmental disturbances the world faces, people force themselves to practice more environmentally conscious activities.
This new mindset shaped the way they purchase new products to implement sustainability into their lifestyle. A lot of consumers would now be more willing to buy and support entrepreneurs that sell eco-friendly technology that produces green energy than support fossil fuel electricity generation.
Becoming a renewable energy entrepreneur
There are more ways to become a renewable energy-focused entrepreneur than just selling solar panels. There are choices to provide either product or service to your customers. While you can certainly profit a lot by being a provider of affordable renewable energy solutions for other businesses, that might not be where your forte lies.
Fortunately, you can still market your preferred goods and services as a renewable energy entrepreneur if you do so on a business platform that runs primarily on renewable energy. If you put your green efforts front and center, your client base will know that they are supporting a business that cares about the planet. As long as you’re not overselling it, this can serve as excellent PR.
For good measure, seek out green e-certified suppliers to verify that you’re getting your stock through sustainable means. When starting a business, always make sure that you partner with reputable suppliers, and don’t neglect employee care. Make sure your staff have benefits and that they’re covered by workers comp insurance, especially if your business is in the service industry.
A business plan made from these points helps the future entrepreneur manage the path the business will take in the future. It would not do to be so environmentally conscious and skimp out on your employees’ welfare.
How renewable energy can pave the way to success?
As previously mentioned, renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular. Thus, businesses that put emphasis on using renewable energy, in any of its forms, already have an edge over those who don’t. But the advantages run deeper than that.
Mainly, if done right and you play around the current limitations of renewable energy well, you can shave a substantial amount off of your utility bills. Less overhead means more funds to invest, and that means faster growth.
In the long term, going renewable prepares you for the inevitable time when oil prices skyrocket due to diminishing reserves. You’d essentially be future-proofing your business, while putting it in the good graces of your clientele at the same time.
Investing in renewable power is one of the biggest favors you can do for your business in this transitional time. It essentially lets you in on the ground floor of the green revolution. Aside from its aforementioned benefits, this also allows you to fulfill a moral duty to the earth.
Biomass is one of the oldest and simplest ways of getting heat and energy, and it’s starting to make a comeback due to its status as renewable resource. Some, however, aren’t so sure that using more of it would be good for our environment. So, how sustainable is biomass energy really?
What is Biomass?
Biomass is organic material from plants and animals. It naturally contains energy because plants absorb it from the sun through photosynthesis. When you burn biomass, it releases that energy. It’s also sometimes converted into a liquid or gas form before it is burned.
Biomass includes a wide variety of materials but includes:
About five percent of the United States’ energy comes from biomass. Biomass fuel products such as ethanol make up about 48 percent of that five percent while wood makes up about 41 percent and municipal waste accounts for around 11 percent.
The Benefits of Biomass
Biomass is a renewable resource because the plants that store the energy released when it is burned can be regrown continuously. In theory, if you planted the same amount of vegetation that you burned, it would be carbon neutral because the plants would absorb all of the carbon released. Doing this is, however, much easier said than done.
Another potential is that it serves as a use for waste materials that have are already been created. It adds value to what otherwise would be purely waste.
While you can replenish the organic matter you burn, doing so requires complex crop or forest management and the use of a large amount of land. Also, some biomass, such as wood, takes a long time to grow back. This amounts to a delay in carbon absorption. Additionally, the harvesting of biomass will likely involve some sort of emissions.
Is it Sustainable?
So, is biomass energy sustainable? Measuring the environmental impacts of biomass fuel use has proven to be complex due to the high number of variables, which has led to a lot of disagreement about this question.
Some assert that biomass use cannot be carbon neutral, because even if you burned and planted the same amount of organic matter, harvesting it would still result in some emissions. This could perhaps be avoided if you used renewable energy to harvest it. A continuous supply of biomass would likely require it to be transported long distances, worsening the challenge of going carbon neutral.
With careful planning, responsible land management and environmentally friendly harvesting and distribution, biomass could be close to, if not entirely, carbon neutral and sustainable. Given our reliance on fossil fuels, high energy consumption levels and the limited availability of land and other resources, this would be an immense challenge to undertake and require a complete overhaul of our energy use.
Source locally: Using biomass that comes from the local area reduces the impact of distributing it.
Clean distribution: If you do transport biofuel long distances, using an electric or hybrid vehicles powered largely by clean energy would be the most eco-friendly way to do it. This also applies to transporting it short distances.
Measuring the environmental impacts of biomass fuel use is complex due to high number of variables
Clean harvesting: Using environmentally friendly, non-emitting means of harvesting can greatly reduce the impact of using biomass. This might also involve electric vehicles.
Manage land sustainably: For biomass to be healthy for the ecosystem, you must manage land used to grow it with responsible farming practices.
Focus on waste: Waste is likely the most environmentally friendly form of biomass because it uses materials that would otherwise simply decompose and doesn’t require you to grow any new resources for your fuel or energy needs.
Is biomass energy sustainable? It has the potential to be, but doing so would be quite complex and require quite a bit of resources. Any easier way to address the problem is to look at small areas of land and portions of energy use first. First, make that sustainable and then we may be able to expand that model on to a broader scale.
Bioenergy projects are plagued by several problems. This article makes an attempt at collating some of the most prominent issues associated with biomass technologies and provides plausible solutions in order to seek further promotion of biomass energy technologies. The solutions provided below are based on author’s understanding and experience in this field.
Here are the top issues in biomass energy projects around the world:
1. Large Project Costs
The project costs are to a great extent comparable to these technologies which actually justify the cause. Also, people tend to ignore the fact, that most of these plants, if run at maximum capacity could generate a Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 80% and above. This figure is about 2-3 times higher than what its counterparts wind and solar energy based power plants could provide. This however, comes at a cost – higher operational costs.
2. Lower Efficiency of Biomass Technologies
The solution to this problem, calls for innovativeness in the employment of these technologies. To give an example, one of the paper mill owners in India, had a brilliant idea to utilize his industrial waste to generate power and recover the waste heat to produce steam for his boilers. The power generated was way more than he required for captive utilization. With the rest, he melts scrap metal in an arc and generates additional revenue by selling it.
Although such solutions are not possible in each case, one needs to possess the acumen to look around and innovate – the best means to improve the productivity with regards to these technologies.
3. Immature Technologies
One needs to look beyond what is directly visible. There is a humongous scope of employment of these biomass technologies for decentralized power generation. With regards to scale, few companies have already begun conceptualizing ultra-mega scale power plants based on biomass resources. Power developers and critics need to take a leaf out of these experiences.
4. Lack of Funding Options
The most essential aspect of any biomass energy project is the resource assessment. Investors if approached with a reliable resource assessment report could help regain their interest in such projects. Moreover, the project developers also need to look into community based ownership models, which have proven to be a great success, especially in rural areas.
The project developer needs to not only assess the resource availability but also its alternative utilization means. It has been observed that if a project is designed by considering only 10-12% of the actual biomass to be available for power generation, it sustains without any hurdles.
Most countries still lack a common platform to the buyers and sellers of biomass resources. As a result of this, their price varies from vendor to vendor even when considering the same feedstock. Entrepreneurs need to come forward and look forward to exploiting this opportunity, which could not only bridge the big missing link in the resource supply chain but also could transform into a multi-billion dollar opportunity.
6. High Risks / Low Paybacks
Biomass energy plants are plagued by numerous uncertainties including fuel price escalation and unreliable biomass resource supply to name just a few. Project owners should consider other opportunities to increase their profit margins. One of these could very well include tying up with the power exchanges as is the case in India, which could offer better prices for the power that is sold at peak hour slots.
The developer may also consider the option of merchant sale to agencies which are either in need of a consistent power supply and are presently relying on expensive back-up means (oil/coal) or are looking forward to purchase “green power” to cater to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
7. Resource Price Escalation
A study of some of the successful biomass energy plants globally would result in the conclusion of the inevitability of having own biomass resource base to cater to the plant requirements. This could be through captive forestry or energy plantations at waste lands or fallow lands surrounding the plant site. Although, this could escalate the initial project costs, it would prove to be a great cushion to the plants operational costs in the longer run.
In cases where it is not possible to go for such an alternative, one must seek case-specific biomass procurement models, consider help from local NGOs, civic bodies etc. and go for long-term contracts with the resource providers.
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