Biomass and Energy
The unit’s aim is to respond to energy supply difficulties in developing countries by improving procedures tailored to individual situations and to local biomass availability, and by analysing the conditions for their use in tropical environments. Its research covers thermochemical biomass processing technologies for fuel production, decentralized electricity generation and biofuel production, keeping a watchful eye on the possible impact of those techniques on the natural environment.
In view of the range of socieconomic situations in which the unit works, the technologies used have to be tailored to the raw materials, whether pure or contaminated. In particular, it strives to assess and develop new processes and determine the conditions for their assimilation and transfer. Its research is crucial in situations where biomass processing is possible, as it can provide solutions to issues of poverty, development and global environmental awareness. The objective is therefore to acquire the technicoeconomic data required to steer strategies in developing countries towards more efficient biomass use.