Comparative analysis of biomass energy potential in BRICS countries

Abstract The growing population and standard of living on the planet have led to an increase in production and consumption waste. Involvement of the waste in the process of energy generation facilitates addressing recycling problem, promotes sustainable energy production, lowers the reliance on fossil fuels, and reduces emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. The paper focuses on three types of biomass – wood waste, agricultural products (dedicated energy crops and their waste forms), and municipal solid waste. The energy potential of these biomass types in the five BRICS countries accounts for 40.3% of the global total. The greatest energy potential of the resources is observed in China (6.9 EJ per year). In India, the biomass potential is estimated at 6.1 EJ per year, followed by Brazil at 5.9 EJ per year, Russia at 1.0 EJ per year, and South Africa at 0.3 EJ per year. In the majority of the countries analyzed, agricultural products account for the largest share of biomass at 53.9%, with municipal waste contributing 27.2% and woody waste standing at 18.9%. This supply of biomass is sufficient to cover an average of 8.4% of final energy consumption in the BRICS countries.