Utilization Opportunities of Agricultural Biomass in Iraq

Investing in renewable energies, including biomass, is an important topic in Iraq. Research indicates that there is great potential for renewable energy in Iraq, including biomass, but achieving this great potential requires clear strategies and significant investments. This research sought to determine the amount of biomass energy that can be produced by the residues of eight Iraqi crops: wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice (straw), rice (husk), cotton, and sugar beets. could produce. Calorific value and accessible residue amount were considered to determine the residue's potential for energy. Estimates for 2021 showed that 1,308,516 tons of agricultural residue would be available overall for the eight crops. The two crops with the highest residue percentages were wheat at 52.31% and rice (straw), at 19.98%. The total calorific value of the residue was also obtained at 20,744,442 GJ. Wheat and rice (straw) also gave the highest calorific value at 52.79% and 18.81%, respectively. Therefore, according to the results obtained in this study, a portion of the country's energy consumption can be saved in this way given the abundance of agricultural resources in Iraq and the appropriate climate. Implementing residue-to-energy projects will help Iraq harness these resources and contribute to sustainable energy development.