Estimation of Wood Residues Generation from Sawmilling Activities and Energy Potential in Kwara State, Nigeria

• Main Author: E. A. Alhassan, J. O. Olaoye, T. A. Adekanye and C. E. Okonkwo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Technoscience Publications 2019-09-01
• Series: Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
• Subjects: environment
• Online Access: http://neptjournal.com/upload-images/NL-69-42-(40)-D-873.pdf

The global concerns about the rise in anthropogenic gases have resulted in alternative clean energy sources. Biomass is one of the most prominent renewable energy sources, which can be found in wood and wood wastes, agricultural crops and their waste byproducts, municipal solid waste (MSW), animal wastes, food processing, aquatic plants and algae. Wood and by-products obtained from forest biomass stand at the centre of Renewable Energy Source (RES) due to its availability and usefulness in most developing countries. Sawdust is one of the wood processing residues that is in excess of local demand because of the near absence of its industrial demand in Kwara State. Data relating to its availability, industrial usage and energy potential are rarely available in this study area. This study investigates its availability and inherent energy potential that can be a vital tool for energy policy, planning and development. Wood wastes generated in the state were estimated to be 8012.8 m3/yr with inherent energy potential of 31298 GJ. By putting sawdust, seen as wastes in most wood processing plants, into efficient use will help reduce the competition for wood as a source of heat for cooking and heating.