Residue Biomass and Municipal Waste as an Alternative Source of Energy - Research Proposal Example

Residue Biomass and municipal waste as an alternative source of energy; case study, UAE Name: Instructor Name: Contents Contents 2 Background and introduction 3 Research topic and problem 6 Motivation 7 Objectives 8 Literature review 8 Methodology 9 Methods 10 References 12 Background and introduction UAE (United Arab Emirates) attained self governance in the year 1971 and since then this part of the globe has experienced a successful development of economy and process of urbanization. In the past two decades, there has been huge increase in primary consumption of energy in terms of natural gas and fossil fuel. The improved economic development in the year 2000 led to highest energy consumption per individual across the globe. In addition, the release of carbon per individual increased twice at least ten folds more than the yearly average release in the globe, greater comparing what it was in the rich nations respectively (Kazim, 2007). The research problem underpinning this study is founded on the fact that the UAE’s reliance on the depleting, traditional sources of energy fails to meet the demands of a future which is environmentally sensitive. This has culminated in the rise in prices of fossil fuels which continues to derail the socio-economic growth of various countries like in the UAE as governments make extensive efforts to subsidize energy costs. This has in turn resulted in widening the gap between those who can afford electricity and those who cannot. In addition, carbon emissions have continued to rise over recent decades as the demand for the fossil fuel increases. Moreover, the costs of carbon sequestration are not economically viable as the sole mechanism to mitigate climate change around the globe when there are other sources of energy available, for instance from residue biomass and municipal waste (Klass, 1998). Against this backdrop, the study of residue biomass and municipal waste as an alternative source of energy in the UAE as proposed in this paper is an effort to explore the viability of the latter sources of energy in this region. This has extensive significance in not only mitigating the effects of global climate change but also as a response to the depletion of traditional sources of energy. The study will investigate the viability of residue biomass and municipal waste as an alternative and sustainable source of energy in the UAE. The study will also explore the long and short term uses of residue biomass and municipal waste for energy production in an effort to help mitigate climate change. This is founded on the feasibility of alternative energy in North Africa, Middle East and EU among other regions in the global spectrum as evidenced by Elliot (2012). The rationale of this study is based on the fact that the patterns of energy consumption around the world have experienced various developments in the recent past. This has prompted major debates in regard to the future of energy consumption in different countries as well as forming the foundation of diverse studies. These studies are evidenced by Edmonds and Reilly (1983). These scholars explored the long-term global energy production and consumption. They also used a program to scrutinize carbon dioxide challenges and their impact in elevating climate change. Various scholars in different fields of academia have thus inferred that for there to be effectiveness in mitigation of climatic changes, the worldwide utility of natural gas and oil for the purposes of generating electricity, industrial uses and transportation among other utilities ought to be substantially curtailed in the current as well as in the subsequent centuries (Brook, 2012). This has resulted in heated discourse in different countries around the globe in regard to the utility of renewable sources of energy like biomass as a formidable approach aimed at surmounting the challenge of global warming. This is evidenced in Italy whereby Cicia et. al (2012) cited that there have been significant political debates revolving around the new energy policy which has been particularly structured and instituted aimed at making core contributions to the efforts towards mitigation of climate change. In addition, the greater scale incorporation of RES (renewable energy sources) in the energy plans has been perceived to be fundamental for Greece to meet its 2020 targets that shows that 40% of the nationwide total electricity use and 20% of the nationwide total energy use ought to catered by the renewable energy sources like biomass (Kaldellis, Kapsali & Katsanou, 2012). In order to meet similar objectives and going along with the protocol of Kyoto, the Unites Arab Emirates has made extensive efforts to incorporate energy of nuclear in its electric grid intended to reduce green house gases production as indicated by the administration (Al Farra & Abu-Hijleh, 2012). Nonetheless, despite this intervention by the UAE government, it is apparent that the waste produced from the nuclear plants is immense, not forgetting the fact that there are immense costs to be incurred in the course of developing comprehensive nuclear programs. These costs are incurred in all the up and downstream prerequisites like the establishment of waste disposal program. Moreover, it is imperative to note that the production of nuclear power in the UAE will exclusively depend of non-renewable and depleting source-Uranium which will become a major casualty of costs inflation if nuclear power becomes widely used around the world. In addition, a possible attack on the nuclear power plant can be diabolical to any country, whether it is accidental or intentional in the sense that it will spread radio-active radiations over a wide area resulting in numerous casualties (Al Farra & Abu-Hijleh, 2012) The viability of biomass as a potential source of energy in the UAE is endowed with future applicability. Biomass energy will greatly benefit from the increasing amounts of industrial and municipal wastes in this region. Research topic and problem The topic for this research is the viability of residue biomass and municipal waste as an alternative source of energy in the UAE. This is a narrowed range from the wider biomass scope which encompasses crops, agricultural wastes (such as animal feces matter and dead crops), forest residues and biodegradable components of industrial and municipal waste. In this regard, the topic in this study will focus on residue biomass and municipal waste. Biomass comprises by-products from agricultural activities and food-processing industries, whilst municipal waste refers to bio-degradable sewage sludge and garbage from households and eateries in cities. As mentioned in the preceding section, Al Farra & Abu-Hijleh (2012); Kazim (2007) cited that the annual emission of CO2 in the UAE has more than doubled since 1990 and was reported by the World Bank at 24.98 (metric tons per capita) in 2008. Moreover, electricity which is generated from diesel and petroleum is credited in contributing to nearly 50% of the CO2 release in this country. In addition, the increased industrialization and population growth in the UAE poses immense strain on the environment. Nonetheless, these challenges can be addressed through embracing residue biomass and municipal waste as an alternative source of energy. Motivation The reality of global climate change threatens to disrupt or even roll back the socio-economic development of many countries around the globe. This is evidenced by the necessity of reconciling the double impediment of easing and adapting to climate change while at the same time sustaining the growth priorities of different nations which is a robust test for the international community. The overreliance on fossil fuels among other traditional energy sources in the UAE as well as other regions in the world has been cited as a major reason behind the heightening climate change in the contemporary period as cited in the previous section. Thus, there is an inherent need to sought alternative sources of energy which are endowed with future sustainability as well as being environmentally conducive. This is best epitomized by biomass which has been subjected to limited utility in different regions around the globe. This is also coupled with the challenges associated with other sources of alternative energy like nuclear power previously analyzed. In addition, the rudimentary fact that UAE has in the recent past experienced enormous industrial and population growth in the recent past poses another challenge to environmental sustainability in this region which creates another point of concern. Nonetheless, both of these challenges can be positively utilized through harnessing their outputs in terms of residue biomass and municipal waste which can be integral in providing an alternative source of energy in this region. All the above factors are the primary motivations underpinning this study on the viability of long and short term uses of residue biomass and municipal waste for energy production in an effort to help mitigate climate change in the future. Objectives To examine the current trends of energy production and consumption in the United Arab Emirates To assess the contribution of the current energy sources in the UAE, most predominantly fossil fuels to the overall CO2 emission in the region To find out the levels of residue biomass and municipal waste in the UAE and how they can be used in the production of energy To propose a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism which can be used to assess the viability of this alternative source of energy in the UAE Literature review In a generic view, biomass has been perceived by different scholars to include organic matter which is generated from photosynthesis process, animal waste including industrial and municipal waste (Demirbas, 2005), a definition which is also supported by Sengupta and Pike (2012). Biomass, mostly the residue biomass and municipal waste which are core to this study have been perceived as a robust source of alternative energy as a result of the strong correlation between fossil fuel consumption and climate change in the world. Nonetheless, despite the robust linkage between fossil fuels consumption and increasing global climate change, it is imperative to point to the fact that there have been some considerable arguments in relation to this linkage. However, majority of the specialists in environmental issues have fortified the fact that there is a strong correlation between the localized and regional air quality in regard to the fossil fuels consumption and the concentration of the pollutants. Thus, they have inferred that the more the consumption of fossil fuel, mostly in power plants and by motor vehicles, the more the levels of air pollution in that region which is related to climate change (Klass, 1998). Against this backdrop, most studies have revealed that biomass has evolved into becoming the most widely used renewable energy source among the energy systems around the globe whereby it is supplemented by conversion technologies which are available to generate fuel for the production of heat, electricity and transportation (Eisevier, 2012) and has been widely used in developing countries like Brazil as evidenced by Lora and Andrade (2009) and can also find high applicability in the UAE. Methodology This study will combine both the qualitative and quantitative approach. The data will be acquired from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources will entail fieldwork where data will be collected using robust data collection tools like questionnaires and interview schedules while the secondary data will be acquired from previously published sources as expounded on the subsequent section. The integration of both the qualitative and quantitative approaches is imperative in the sense that it will compensate the shortcomings of individual methods as well as for the purposes of triangulation (application and combination of several research methodologies while studying the same phenomenon). Methods This study will be located at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) whose headquarter is in Abu-Dhabi. Before embarking on this study, prior communications will be made to IRENA requesting for permission to base the research in this institution. Further, approval to conduct the research will be acquired through the formal authorization from the researcher’s learning institution, where this authorization will be forwarded to IRENA. Questionnaires and interview schedules will be the primary data collection instruments. The reliability of these instruments will basically be ascertained through pilot testing. This is whereby they will be administered to 8 members of another agency concerned with energy issues in Abu Dhabi with a gender ratio of 1:1. This will be before undertaking the actual study at the case study population aimed at ascertaining both stability and internal consistency of the research instrument. The primary technique to be used in this undertaking will be split-half method. In regard to the validity of the research instruments, this will be determined through comparing their results with results from more objective measures. The instruments will also be given to a research expert to ascertain that the instruments are capable of measuring the variables under investigation. The primary respondents in this study will be from IRENA who will be acquired through both snowballing and convenience sampling techniques. Nonetheless, quota sampling will also be put into utility aimed at arriving at a representative sample of a cumulative total of 50 respondents in terms of gender, occupation and age among other factors. As mentioned in the preceding section, the information for this project will be attained from two sources of data; secondary and primary. Data from primary source will be obtained via intensive and thorough field-work whereas the data from secondary sources will be obtained from printed materials and sources. One of the tools to be employed in collection of primary data will be Questionnaires. A questionnaire to carry out survey will be developed and it will include unstructured and structured questions. This will be because of type of data to be gathered and also the blueprint of research. Moreover, thorough interviews will be carried out in order to assist in the compilation of first hand data. As a result, it will be paramount to develop meticulous timetable of interviews to be given to interviewees who are involved in the energy sector in the UAE. These data collection will be ideal since they will result in the attainment of both qualitative and quantitative data which will be paramount in informing the study. Data analysis entails examining the collected data in order to elicit viable inference and provide practical recommendations. The raw data will be cleaned, edited and coded through a predetermined coding scheme and responses analyzed according to the research objectives. The collected data will be entered using MS Excel. Data obtained from surveys will be passed to suitable computer statistical software such as the SPSS statistical computer program. Data presentation tools and analysis will include graphs, tables, pictorials and pie charts. Regression will also be used in the data analysis process. This will be aimed at assessing the relationship between the dependent variable and one or more input variables. Against this backdrop, linear regression will be used and it will entail modeling the relationship between a scalar dependent variable y and one or more exploratory variables denoted x. References Al Farra H.J. & Abu-Hijleh, B. (2012).The potential role of nuclear energy in mitigating CO2 emissions in the United Arab Emirates. Energy Policy, 42, 372-385. Retrieved November 20th 2012, fromhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511009827 Brook, B.W. (2012). Could nuclear fission energy, etc., solve the greenhouse problem? The affirmative case. Energy Policy, 42, 4-8. Retrieved November 20th 2012, fromhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511009189 Cicia, G. et. al (2012). Fossil energy versus nuclear, wind, solar and agricultural biomass: Insights from an Italian national survey. Energy policy, 42, 59-66. 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Retrieved November 20th 2012, fromhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0360544283900646 Kaldellis, J.K, Kapsali, M. & Katsanou, E., (2012). Renewable energy applications in Greece— What is the public attitude?Energy Policy, 42, 37-48. Retrieved November 20th 2012, fromhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511008949 Kazim, A.M. (2007). Assessments of primary energy consumption and its environmental consequences in the United Arab Emirates. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 11(3), 426-446. Retrieved November 20th 2012, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032105000390 Klass, D.L. (1998). Biomass for Renewable Energy, Fuels, and Chemicals. Retrieved November 20th 2012, fromhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780124109506 Lora, E.S. &Andrade, R.V. (2009). Biomass as energy source in Brazil. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13(4), 777-788. 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