About this Course

One major method which has been studied to reduce CO₂ emissions from vehicles is the blending of gasoline with ethanol. It is estimated that about 8.908 x 10 ^-3 metric tonnes of CO₂ are emitted from the combustion of a gallon of gasoline that does not contain ethanol, and 1.015 x 10 ^-2 metric tonnes of CO₂ are emitted from the combustion of a gallon of diesel that does not contain ethanol. Increase in the consumption of ethanol fuel has mitigated increases in CO₂ emissions from the transportation sector.

Ethanol production from sugar cane is commercially available in Brazil, while biofuel production from algae is at research and development phase. Existing research on biomass resources and the potential for biofuels in Nigeria is focused on power generation and biofuels production from first generation biomass. Typically this substitutes fuel production for food crops. There is currently limited information on the state of biomass conversion technologies for the utilization of non-food crops for transportation fuels production in Nigeria.

This course will explain the process involved in the production of biofuel, biogas and biodiesel.

Learning Outcomes & Objectives:

• To elucidate the various bioenergy processes for biofuel, biodiesel and biogas.
• To provide the required knowledge on the various indigenous biomass resources and energy crops in Nigeria.
• To highlight the in-country industrial efforts made so far, between the state oil company [NNPC], and bioenergy development companies.
• To explain the bioenergy development efforts made so far, in Nigeria,
• And identify the problems been encountered in the process of bio-development.