Prospects for biomass as a of renewable energy source in rural areas in Uzbekistan

Full text: Due to world-wide increasing energy demand during the last decades energy source stocks (petroleum, gas, the coal) becomes much less. Besides the use of specified sources of energy, the results in deterioration of ecological conditions. In connection with these the using of renewed sources of energy is very essential. Now in the world the wide experience on using of such renewed sources of energy as: a wind power, hydro power, tidal energy, energy of waves, energy of solar light, geothermal energy, biomass energy is developed. Opportunities for using of renewable energy sources depend on geographical and climatic conditions of an environment. It is obvious, that for Uzbekistan most effective from this viewpoint, are wind, solar, hydro power, and biomass energies. However, correct choice of the proper renewable energy source depending on the area is needed. In this context solar energy and energy of biomass are effective for any region of Uzbekistan. At the same time for using of geothermal energy, hydro power and wind power it is required selection of geographical places adequate to the special requirements. According to Ref. [1] there are enough natural potential of a solar energy, in Uzbekistan , since the average density of solar power flow is 4.5 kWh/m2 per day or 16 MG/m2 per day. For comparison, it is possible to estimate, that every kilogram of biomass on the average can produce energy the same order 12.5 MG/kg [2]. It is obvious, that use of a solar energy for transformation to electrical with using of solar cells based modules requires the rather large financial expenses for purchase of the appropriate equipment, which is not accessible to each farm and requires large time for recouping of the charges. At the same time equipment for producing of biogas is accessible almost to each farm engaged as by animal industries, poultry and cultivation of vegetative cultures. In addition, the construction of biogas devices does not require high technologies and almost all materials for its construction are accessible in Uzbekistan. It should be noted that besides the above advantages, biogas devices are much safer from the environmental viewpoint. Moreover, the waste from the biogas device can be used at cultivation of various cultures in a farm. For research of opportunities, advantages and lacks during generation of energy from biomass in a plant of Urganch State University biogas installation with reactor volume 10 m3 is constructed and installed in a farm. Biogas generator was designed and constructed for working in continuous mode of operations and allows regularly adding of the biomass. The biogas generator is equipped with heating system for start of the generation in the winter.(authors) References: [1.] Internet site: www.bpsolar.com/ContentDocuments/17/PV System Sizing Tools.zip [2.] Vedenev A.G, Maslov A.N. Stroitel'stvo biogazovykh ustanovok. Kratkoe rukovodstvo. -B.:Evro . 2006