Establishment of a lignocellulosic feed stock data bank and a single agriculture and forestry bioenergy network

The Philippines, being an agricultural country, can offer substantial amount of biomass resources that can serve as fuel for power generation or as feedstock for bioethanol production. The vast potential resources can be converted to energy which is considered as the life-blood of economy in achieving economic growth and sustaining the nation's progress and prosperity. The top five rice producing provinces of the country in 2010 were Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Isabela, Iloilo, Cagayan. The top five corn producing provinces of the country in 2010 were Isabela, Bukidnon, Maguindanao, South Cotabato, North Cotabato. The top five coconut producing provinces of the country in 2010 were Quezon, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Leyte. The usual agricultural waste practice in burning the fields, however, organic farming is starting to be widely implemented in the country. The wastes in composting, organic fertilizer and mulching has been traditionally existing. Furthermore, agricultural wastes are also utilized for special purposes like household fuels, low cost building materials, animal feeds, textiles, and other uses. The highest rice hull producing region is the Central Luzon. Central Luzon produced 2,958,415 MT rice straw. Other highest producing regions include Western Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region and SOCCKSARGEN [North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat] producing 1,622,576 MT corn stover. Other highest producing regions include Northern Mindanao, SOCCKSARGEN, ARMM and Ilocos Region. Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region and SOCCKSARGEN are among the top rice planted area. The top five area for rice producing provinces include Nueva Ecija (299,844 has.), Isabela (251,064 has.), Pangasinan (245,527 has.), Iloilo (203,436 has.), and Cagayan (183,340 has.). The top five areas for corn producing provinces include Isabela (239,052 has.), Maguindanao (194,134 has.), Bukidnon (188,994 has.), South Cotabato (137,983 has.) and Cebu (121,689 has.). The top five area for coconut producing provinces include Quezon (230,440 has.), Zamboanga del Norte (168,960 has.), Leyte (158,340 has.), Davao Oriental (155,705 has.), Zamboanga del Sur (127,300 has.). Although there are many areas producing rice and corn, only the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan satisfy the minimum contiguous area of 150,000 ha for rice within a 40 km radius, and the provinces of Isabela and Bukidnon satisfy the minimum contiguous area of 48,000 ha for corn within a 40 km radius. The maximum ethanol potential from corn stover and rice straw in million liters of the selected provinces is computed using the conversion factors identified (0.176L ETOH/kg corn stover and 0.158L ETOH/kg rice straw). Based on the computation, 502.55 million liters can be obtained from the rice straw produced in Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Isabela. In addition, 301.34 million liters can be obtained from corn stover collected in Isabela and Bukidnon. If this potential can be fully realized, it can provide more than enough ethanol in years 2011 to 2014. The total cost of goods sold per liter of cellulosic ethanol from rice straw is P29.49. About 66.39% of this is contributed by the Primary Processing Component and 33.61% by the Secondary Processing Component. For corn stover, the total cost of goods sold per liter of cellulosic ethanol is P20.39. About 52.79% of this is contributed by the Primary Processing Component and 47.21% by the Secondary Processing Component. Using rice hull, there is a computed power generation potential of 12.9 kwh per 100 kg of palay. Only three provinces in the Philippines has the potential to produce at least 2 MW power using rice hull. Using corn cobs, there is a computed power generation potential of 19.6 kwh per 100 kg of ear corn. There are seven provinces in the Philippines that has the potential to produce at least 2 MW power using corn cobs. These provinces are Isabela, Bukidnon, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Ilocos Norte, Lanao del Sur and Cagayan. Coconut offers the highest potentials for power in different provinces. There are 51 provinces that has at least 2 MW potential using coconut shells and 55 provinces for using coconut husks. The highest power potential can be found in Quezon (28 MW for shell, 46 MW for husks) in the Luzon, followed by two provinces in Mindanao which are Davao Oriental (27 MW for shell and 43 MW for husks) and Davao del Sur (21 MW for shell and 34 MW for husks).