Page 46 - New Trends in Eco efficient and Recycled Concrete

Biomass fly ash and biomass 2

bottom ash

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2
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Francisco Agrela , Manuel Cabrera , Marı´a Martı´n Morales ,
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Montserrat Zamorano and Mazen Alshaaer 3
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Construction Engineering Area, University of Cordoba, Leonardo Da Vinci Building,
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Rabanales Campus, Cordoba, Spain, Civil and Building Engineering Schools, University
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of Granada, Granada, Spain, Plasma Technology and Material Science Unit (PTMSU),
Department of Physics, College of Science and Humanitarian Studies, Prince Sattam Bin
Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

2.1 Energy from biomass, and biomass ashes (BA)

Biomass is an ‘indirect solar fuel’ source and is used in countless applications as a
renewable energy source. As this waste comes from animal and vegetable organic
matter, its environmental and economic potential have made it a competitive alter-
native to traditional solid fuels. Consequently, biomass is a renewable energy with
massive potential. Used every day by more and more people, it aims to cover the
high demand for energy that society demands day after day presenting a solution to
energy problems, although it also is inconvenient due to ash production when ther-
mochemical processes are applied to produce energy.
In this chapter we explain the main use of biomass to generate electricity, which
produces another waste, biomass ashes, which could be applied in concrete
manufacture.

2.1.1 Biomass to produce energy, a renewable alternative

The combustion of fossil fuels in the conventional method of producing energy has
been established for many years; however, during the past few decades, the short-
age of fossil energy resources, the negative environmental impact derived of their
use and their price variability have encouraged governments to look for alternative
energy sources that diversify energy production improving their management effi-
ciency, political independence, economic growth and environmental protection
(Herna ´ndez et al., 2018). Fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases (GHG), mainly carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ), into the atmosphere. In 2013, world CO 2 emissions from the con-
sumption of petroleum exceeded 11,830 million metric tonnes (EIA, 2015).
In order to ensure safe energy supply, new energy models are being developed
according to renewable, sustainable, efficient and cost-effective systems.

New Trends in Eco-efficient and Recycled Concrete. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102480-5.00002-6
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