Quantitative appraisal of biomass resources and their energy potential in Egypt

The utilization of biomass as a renewable source of energy is important from the energetic as well as the environmental viewpoint. It can reduce the rate of fossil fuel depletion caused by the rapid increase in energy consumption. This paper presents an estimation of the biomass and its potential energy in Egypt. Four main types of biomass energy sources are included: agricultural residues (dedicated bioenergy crop residues), municipal solid wastes, animal wastes, and sewage sludge. The potential biomass quantity and its theoretical energy content were computed according to statistical reports, literature reviews, and personal investigations. The results show that Egypt produces a considerable amount of biomass with a total theoretical energy content of 416.9×1015 J. The dry biomass produced from bioenergy crop residue sources has been estimated at about 12.33 million tons/year, of which 63.75% is produced from rice straw. This source represents the highest percentage (44.6%) of the total theoretical potential energy in Egypt, followed by municipal solid wastes, which could produce 41.7% from an annual amount of 34.6 million tons. Meanwhile, the rest of the total theoretical potential energy could be produced from animal and sewage wastes. The estimated biomass with its considerable potential energy content represents an important renewable energy source in Egypt.