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1722878 Vol 10 · Issue 3 Download Paper

Agricultural Residue Availability and Fuel Resource Assessment for Decentralised Biomass Gasification and Rural Energy Supply in Northern Nigeria

Inuwa, Sani Lamido Sirajo Lawal

Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology  ·  Area of research: Biomass / Biofuel

DOI: 10.64388/IREV10I3-1722878

Abstract

Reliable and affordable energy supply presents a major challenge to a lot of communities in Nigeria. Agricultural residues present a local biomass resource for decentralized energy supply through thermochemical conversion. This study evaluates the resource potential of six (6) selected agricultural residues in Katsina, Kano and Kaduna States of northern Nigeria as feedstock for decentralized biomass gasification. The residues include sorghum stalks, maize stalks/stover, millet straw, maize cobs, rice husks and groundnut shells. The study estimates a gross resource potential of 7.036 Mt/year (7,036 kt/year) of agricultural residues in the study area. The higher heating values (HHVs) of the residues indicate their varied energy densities. Combined with their gross availability, the study estimates a gross chemical energy resource potential of 124.44 PJ/year. This study therefore provides a resource assessment basis for decentralized gasification of biomass residues for electricity and heat in rural communities in northern Nigeria with localized electricity and thermal energy demand.

Keywords

Agricultural residues; biomass gasification; decentralised energy; rural heat–energy supply; feedstock assessment; rural electrification; northern Nigeria.

References

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[2] Basu, P. (2018). Biomass gasification, pyrolysis and torrefaction: Practical design and theory (3rd ed.). Academic Press, Elsevier.

[3] Ezealigo, U. S., Ezealigo, B. N., Kemausuor, F., Achenie, L. E. K., & Onwualu, A. P. (2021). Biomass valorization to bioenergy: Assessment of biomass residues’ availability and bioenergy potential in Nigeria. Sustainability, 13(24), 13806. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413806

[4] Garba, A., & Kishk, M. (2015). Economic assessment of biomass gasification technology in providing sustainable electricity in Nigerian rural areas. In Proceedings of the 1st International Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society Conference (SEEDS 2015): Healthy, Energy Efficient Buildings and Spaces (pp. 281–292). Leeds Beckett University.

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[6] John, N. K., Onwuagbu, C. C., & Chigozie, C. J. (2025). Potential of integrated energy solution in Nigeria: Opportunities and challenges for sustainable development—multi facet assessment model. Discover Sustainability, 6, 239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00915-5

[7] National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), & Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). (2021). National report of wet season agricultural performance in Nigeria 2021. NAERLS Press.

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[9] Sobamowo, G. M., & Ojolo, S. J. (2018). Techno-economic analysis of biomass energy utilization through gasification technology for sustainable energy production and economic development in Nigeria. Journal of Energy, 2018, Article 4860252, 16 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4860252

[10] Ukoba, M. O., Diemuodeke, E. O., Briggs, T. A., Imran, M., & Owebor, K., (2023a). Geographic information systems (GIS) approach for assessing the biomass energy potential and identification of appropriate biomass conversion technologies in Nigeria. Biomass and Bioenergy, 170, 106726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2023.106726

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How to cite this paper

Inuwa, Sani Lamido, Sirajo Lawal "Agricultural Residue Availability and Fuel Resource Assessment for Decentralised Biomass Gasification and Rural Energy Supply in Northern Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 10 Issue 3 2026 Page 856-865 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722878
Inuwa, Sani Lamido, Sirajo Lawal "Agricultural Residue Availability and Fuel Resource Assessment for Decentralised Biomass Gasification and Rural Energy Supply in Northern Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 10, no. 3, Sep. 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722878
Inuwa, Sani Lamido, Sirajo Lawal (2026). Agricultural Residue Availability and Fuel Resource Assessment for Decentralised Biomass Gasification and Rural Energy Supply in Northern Nigeria. Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 10(3). doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722878
Inuwa, Sani Lamido, Sirajo Lawal "Agricultural Residue Availability and Fuel Resource Assessment for Decentralised Biomass Gasification and Rural Energy Supply in Northern Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 10, no. 3, Sep. 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722878
@article{1722878,
      author = {Inuwa, Sani Lamido, Sirajo Lawal},
      title = {Agricultural Residue Availability and Fuel Resource Assessment for Decentralised Biomass Gasification and Rural Energy Supply in Northern Nigeria},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {856-865},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722878.pdf},
      abstract = {Reliable and affordable energy supply presents a major challenge to a lot of communities in Nigeria. Agricultural residues present a local biomass resource for decentralized energy supply through thermochemical conversion. This study evaluates the resource potential of six (6) selected agricultural residues in Katsina, Kano and Kaduna States of northern Nigeria as feedstock for decentralized biomass gasification. The residues include sorghum stalks, maize stalks/stover, millet straw, maize cobs, rice husks and groundnut shells. The study estimates a gross resource potential of 7.036 Mt/year (7,036 kt/year) of agricultural residues in the study area. The higher heating values (HHVs) of the residues indicate their varied energy densities. Combined with their gross availability, the study estimates a gross chemical energy resource potential of 124.44 PJ/year. This study therefore provides a resource assessment basis for decentralized gasification of biomass residues for electricity and heat in rural communities in northern Nigeria with localized electricity and thermal energy demand.},
      keywords = {Agricultural residues; biomass gasification; decentralised energy; rural heat–energy supply; feedstock assessment; rural electrification; northern Nigeria.},
      month = {September},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722878}
  }