Biowaste to Bioelectricity

Due to the ever-increasing global population and industrialization, the world is facing unprecedented crisis of waste management, energy sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental pollution. Biowaste-to-bioelectricity generation offers dual benefit of waste management and renewable energy generation. The continuous production of food waste, agricultural waste, sewage, and sludge is creating management problems worldwide. Biowaste is a renewable resource which can be converted into bioelectricity using various biological and physiochemical processes. Anaerobic digestion, combustion, gasification are some traditional ways, and microbial fuel cells, biochemical conversion, enzymatic biofuel cells are some modern ways of conversion which are commonly used nowadays. Some of the emerging technologies include algal biofuel, biowaste to Hydrogen, and bioelectrochemical systems with nanomaterials. One of the major challenges India is facing is the lack of collection system and effective waste segregation which can affect the quantity and quality of energy generation. If these challenges are managed scientifically, the sector is expected to grow rapidly in coming years with technological advancements increasing job opportunities. This approach has led India to set ambitious targets to generate 40% of its energy from biofuels by 2030. This chapter focuses on various ways which can significantly promote energy self-sufficiency, stimulate local economies, renewable energy generation, and improve waste management practices. Therefore, the chapter assesses the feasibility, efficiency, and environmental impact of these technologies and social acceptance, which also results in stimulating the global economy.