Biomass can be defined as a renewable energy source from living or recently living plant and animal materials which can be used as fuel. The definition of biomass is so broad, and researchers are discovering new biomass energy sources all the time. A list of available sources includes animal dung, sugarcane fiber, coconut husk, landfill waste, etc.
In Nigeria, a lot of farm residue is produced and not it is not put to maximum use. The common practice among Nigerian farmers is to burn these residues or allow farm animals graze through them. These fuels can be put to good use by processing to liquid fuels and used to provide heat and electricity to the farm.
Animal and poultry manures are easily available sources of biomass energy.
Nigeria is very rich in biomass resources but not yet products and a lot still needs to be done if we decide to make use of biomass as a source of renewable energy in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, wind energy remains largely untapped despite it being one of the lowest costs for renewable energy. In the northwestern state of Kastina, a 10 MW capacity wind farm has been completed and is the first wind-based energy development in the country and the largest in west Africa.
The 10MW wind power project can provide power for over 2000 homes according to industry calculations. With constant increase in population and ever-growing demand for power, government policies have to favor the growth of wind and biomass as they are not fully harnessed in the country.
They are feasible, but theses policies have to be backed by sustainable actions if we are to generate power from any of these sources.
