Exploring the Potential of Producing Biomass Energy from Agricultural Residues in Chad

Abstract

This study investigates the potential for generating biomass energy from agricultural residues in Chad. Biomass energy, derived from organic materials, is a renewable and sustainable energy source that can significantly contribute to the energy needs of many countries. In Chad, a country with a predominantly agrarian economy, agricultural residues present a promising opportunity for biomass energy production. The biomass energy production from agricultural residues in Chad holds significant potential to contribute to the country’s energy needs while promoting sustainable development. The country possesses abundant agricultural resources, with substantial residues remaining after harvest, including sorghum stalks, maize stalks, millet straw, and rice straw, often underutilized. These residues can be converted into biofuels like biogas through anaerobic digestion or burned directly to produce heat and electricity. Using data from the Food and Agriculture Organization Statistical Database of the United Nations (FAOSTAT) for 2021, the annual production of agricultural residues was quantified, and their energy potential was calculated based on the residue-to-product ratio and the calorific values of specific residues. The major crops contributing to the total residue amount in Chad are sorghum (56.50%), rice (17.72%), maize (13.31%), millet (6.70%), and dry beans (5.37%). The total amount of agricultural residues in Chad, including annual crop residues, was calculated to be about 18.1 kilotons (kt). The study reveals that the total energy potential of these residues is approximately 252.5 terajoules (TJ) for the 2021 production period in Chad.