Opportunities for Biomass Production in Cambodia

Cambodia located in Southeast Asia has an area of ​​181,035 square kilometers with a population exceeding 14 million (July 2008), of which approximately 85 to 90% live in rural areas (Ministry of Rural Development, 2006, CIA 2008) . More than 80% of the energy comes from biomass (De Lopez, 2003). Firewood burning is the main source of energy for the rural population and the ceramic tile industry. According to De lopez, natural forests are the main source of fuel wood in Cambodia and have caused severe deterioration of the forest over the past two decades.

There are major opportunities, but there are considerable challenges, we need to develop new biomass conversion technology, basic understanding of biomass production chemistry, and tools to measure the impact of biofuel through their life cycle. This includes analysis of potential environmental issues related to changes in land use, water demand, and biodiversity impacts. The combination of hydrogen and fuel cell technology is an alternative to the current dependence on fossil fuel transport and power generation. Despite these advantages, developing a clean, sustainable and cost-competitive hydrogen production method to create a viable future hydrogen economy has serious technical challenges. Hydrogen production and storage are problematic

Biomass is the organic material used to produce energy. This energy production process is called bioenergy. Biomass is mainly in the form of biological waste that is recently living or recently living plants and industrial and domestic waste. Due to the wide range of terms, the physical composition of biomass is contradictory, but usually it includes carbon, water, and organic volatile substances. Combustion: a process of burning combustible materials in the presence of air or oxygen to release heat. This is the easiest way to use biomass for energy. In its basic form, combustion is used for heating (ie fire for warmth), but it can also be used to heat steam for power generation.

Currently, most biomass power generation is based on direct combustion in a dedicated co-fired steam power plant. Since 2000, the supply of biomass power has gradually increased, and in 2010 biomass accounted for about 5% of world electricity production. Biomass power generation in developed countries is still large, but China and Brazil are also becoming important power producers, especially for agricultural surplus electricity producers, for support programs. These Chinese and Brazilian established models can be a viable way to promote biomass power generation in other developing countries with similar conditions.