Editing Renewable resource (section)

==Examples of industrial use==

===Biorenewable chemicals===
{{anchor|biorenewable}}
{{wiktionary|biorenewable}}
Biorenewable chemicals are chemicals created by biological organisms that provide feedstocks for the chemical industry.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Nikolau|first1=Basil J.|last2=Perera|first2=M. Ann D.N.|last3=Brachova|first3=Libuse|last4=Shanks|first4=Brent|date=2008-05-01|title=Platform biochemicals for a biorenewable chemical industry|journal=The Plant Journal|language=en|volume=54|issue=4|pages=536–545|doi=10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03484.x|pmid=18476861|issn=1365-313X|doi-access=free}}</ref> Biorenewable chemicals can provide solar-energy-powered substitutes for the petroleum-based carbon feedstocks that currently supply the chemical industry. The tremendous diversity of enzymes in biological organisms, and the potential for [[synthetic biology]] to alter these enzymes to create yet new chemical functionalities, can drive the chemical industry. A major platform for creation of new chemicals is the [[polyketide]] biosynthetic pathway, which generates chemicals containing repeated [[alkyl]] chain units with potential for a wide variety of [[functional group]]s at the different carbon atoms.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Garg|first1=Shivani|last2=Rizhsky|first2=Ludmila|last3=Jin|first3=Huanan|last4=Yu|first4=Xiaochen|last5=Jing|first5=Fuyuan|last6=Yandeau-Nelson|first6=Marna D.|last7=Nikolau|first7=Basil J.|title=Microbial production of bi-functional molecules by diversification of the fatty acid pathway|journal=Metabolic Engineering|volume=35|pages=9–20|doi=10.1016/j.ymben.2016.01.003|pmid=26827988|year=2016|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Leber|first1=Christopher|last2=Da Silva|first2=Nancy A.|date=2014-02-01|title=Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the synthesis of short chain fatty acids|journal=Biotechnology and Bioengineering|language=en|volume=111|issue=2|pages=347–358|doi=10.1002/bit.25021|pmid=23928901|s2cid=8117248|issn=1097-0290}}</ref> [[Polyurethane]] research is ongoing that specifically uses renewable resources.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Malani|first1=Ritesh S.|last2=Malshe|first2=Vinod C.|last3=Thorat|first3=Bhaskar Narayan|date=2022-01-01|title=Polyols and polyurethanes from renewable sources: past, present and future—part 1: vegetable oils and lignocellulosic biomass|journal=[[Journal of Coatings Technology and Research]]|language=en|volume=19|issue=1|pages=201–222|doi=10.1007/s11998-021-00490-0|s2cid=235442129 |issn=1935-3804}}</ref>

===Bioplastics===
{{main|Bioplastic}}
[[File:Bio-K Blister CG.jpg|thumb|A packaging blister made from [[cellulose acetate]], a [[bioplastic]]]]

Bioplastics are a form of [[plastic]]s derived from renewable [[biomass]] sources, such as [[vegetable fats and oils]], [[lignin]], [[corn starch]], [[pea]] [[starch]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=proj.document&CFTOKEN=19120617&PJ_RCN=7901178&CFID=6808047
|title=Development of a pea starch film with trigger biodegradation properties for agricultural applications
|date=2008-11-30
|publisher=CORDIS services
|access-date=2009-11-24}}</ref> or [[microbiota (microbiology)|microbiota]].<ref>{{Cite journal
|journal=Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
|title=Accumulation of biopolymers in activated sludge biomass
|volume=78
|issue=1–3
|pages=389–399
|author1=Hong Chua |author2=Peter H. F. Yu |author3=Chee K. Ma
|issn=0273-2289
|doi=10.1385/ABAB:78:1-3:389
|date=March 1999
|pmid=15304709
|s2cid=189905491
}}</ref> The most common form of bioplastic is [[thermoplastic]] starch. Other forms include [[Cellulose]] bioplastics, bio[[polyester]], [[Polylactic acid]], and bio-derived [[polyethylene]].

The production and use of bioplastics is generally regarded as a more [[Sustainability|sustainable activity]] when compared to plastic production from petroleum (petroplastic); however, manufacturing of bioplastic materials is often still reliant upon petroleum as an energy and materials source. Because of the fragmentation in the market and ambiguous definitions it is difficult to describe the total market size for bioplastics, but the global production capacity is estimated at 327,000 tonnes.<ref name="NNFCC">[http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/publications/nnfcc-renewable-polymers-factsheet-bioplastics NNFCC Renewable Polymers Factsheet: Bioplastics&nbsp;— NNFCC]. Nnfcc.co.uk (2010-02-19). Retrieved on 2011-08-14.</ref> In contrast, global consumption of all flexible packaging is estimated at 12.3 million tonnes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plasticsnews.com/subscriber/fyi.html?id=1132774806 |title=FYI charts |publisher=Plastics News |access-date=2011-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513223411/http://www.plasticsnews.com/subscriber/fyi.html?id=1132774806 |archive-date=2008-05-13 }}</ref>

===Bioasphalt===
{{main|Bioasphalt}}

Bioasphalt is an [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] alternative made from non-petroleum based renewable resources. Manufacturing sources of bioasphalt include [[sugar]], [[wikt:molasses|molasses]] and [[rice]], [[maize|corn]] and [[potato]] [[starch]]es, and vegetable oil based waste. Asphalt made with vegetable oil based binders was patented by Colas SA in France in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://answers.com/topic/colas-s-a?cat=biz-fin |title=Colas S.A.: Information and Much More from |publisher=Answers.com |access-date=2010-06-07}}</ref><ref>[http://colas-cst.com/_ACTU_TECH/nouveauxproduits.php?fiche=0 COLAS CST - Végécol] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012084340/http://colas-cst.com/_ACTU_TECH/nouveauxproduits.php?fiche=0 |date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref>

===Renewable energy===
<!-- This section is kept short on purpose&nbsp;— see [[Wikipedia:Summary style]]-->
{{main|Renewable energy}}
[[Renewable energy]] refers to the provision of energy via renewable resources which are naturally replenished as fast as they are being used. Examples are [[sunlight]], [[wind]], [[biomass]], [[rain]], [[tidal power|tides]], [[wave power|waves]] and [[geothermal energy|geothermal heat]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thebulletin.org/myth-renewable-energy |title=The myth of renewable energy &#124; Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists |publisher=Thebulletin.org |date=2011-11-22 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-date=2013-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007161531/http://www.thebulletin.org/myth-renewable-energy |url-status=dead }}</ref> Renewable energy may replace conventional fuels in four distinct markets, namely [[electricity generation]], [[solar hot water|hot water]]/[[space heating]], [[motor fuel]]s, and [[Stand-alone power system|rural (off-grid)]] energy services.<ref name=ren15>REN21 (2010). [http://www.harbortaxgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/REN21_GSR_2010_full_revised-Sept2010.pdf Renewables Global Status Report] p. 15.</ref> Manufacturing of renewable energy devices uses [[non-renewable resource]]s such as mined metals and [[Surface power density|land surface]].

===Biomass===
{{main|Biomass}}
[[File:Faz S Sofia canavial 090607 REFON.JPG|thumb|left|A [[sugarcane]] plantation in [[Brazil]] (State of São Paulo). Cane is used for [[biomass]] energy.]]

[[Biomass]] is referring to [[biomaterial|biological material]] from living, or recently living organisms, most often referring to plants or plant-derived materials.

Sustainable harvesting and use of renewable resources (i.e., maintaining a positive renewal rate) can reduce [[air pollution]], [[soil contamination]], [[habitat destruction]] and [[land degradation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Benefits of Renewable Energy Use |url=http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/public-benefits-of-renewable.html |website=Union of Concerned Scientists |access-date=2013-01-04 |year=1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325093405/http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/public-benefits-of-renewable.html |archive-date=2012-03-25 }}</ref> Biomass energy is derived from six distinct energy sources: garbage, wood, plants, waste, [[landfill gases]], and [[alcohol fuels]]. Historically, humans have harnessed biomass-derived energy since the advent of burning wood to make fire, and wood remains the largest biomass energy source today.<ref name="online.wsj.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303740704577524822063133842 |title=Wood-Fired Plants Generate Violations |first1=Justin |last1=Scheck |first2=Ianthe Jeanne |last2=Dugan |newspaper=WSJ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2012-04-12}}</ref><ref>Global biomass fuel resources, Matti Parikka, in Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 27, Issue 6, December 2004, Pages 613–620, Pellets 2002. The first world conference on pellets
</ref>

However, low tech use of biomass, which still amounts for more than 10% of world energy needs may induce [[indoor air pollution in developing nations]]<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Duflo E, Greenstone M, Hanna R |title=Indoor air pollution, health and economic well-being |journal=S.A.P.I.EN.S |volume=1 |issue=1 |year=2008 |url=http://sapiens.revues.org/index130.html}}</ref> and results in between 1.5 million and 2 million deaths in 2000.<ref name="Ezzati">{{cite journal |vauthors=Ezzati M, Kammen DM |title=The health impacts of exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuels in developing countries: knowledge, gaps, and data needs |journal=Environ. Health Perspect. |volume=110 |issue=11 |pages=1057–68 |date=November 2002 |pmid=12417475 |pmc=1241060 |doi=10.1289/ehp.021101057|bibcode=2002EnvHP.110.1057E }}</ref>

The biomass used for electricity generation varies by region.<ref name=ODI1>Frauke Urban and Tom Mitchell 2011. [http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5792&title=climate-change-disasters-electricity-generation Climate change, disasters and electricity generation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920024704/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5792&title=climate-change-disasters-electricity-generation |date=2012-09-20 }}. London: [[Overseas Development Institute]] and [[Institute of Development Studies]]</ref> Forest by-products, such as wood residues, are common in the [[United States]].<ref name=ODI1/> Agricultural waste is common in [[Mauritius]] (sugar cane residue) and [[Southeast Asia]] (rice husks).<ref name=ODI1/> Animal husbandry residues, such as poultry litter, are common in the [[UK]].<ref name=ODI1/> The biomass power generating industry in the United States, which consists of approximately 11,000 [[Megawatt|MW]] of summer operating capacity actively supplying power to the grid, produces about 1.4 percent of the U.S. electricity supply.<ref>{{cite web
 |url     = http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/table4.html
 |title    = U.S. Electric Net Summer Capacity
 |date    = July 2009
 |publisher  = U.S. Energy Information Administration
 |access-date = 2010-01-25
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100110013735/http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/table4.html
 |archive-date = 2010-01-10
}}</ref>

===Biofuel===
{{main|Biofuel}}

[[File:Sao Paulo ethanol pump 04 2008 74 zoom.jpg|thumb|[[Ethanol fuel in Brazil|Brazil]] has [[ethanol fuel|bioethanol]] made from sugarcane available throughout the country. Shown a typical [[Petrobras]] gas station at [[São Paulo]] with dual fuel service, marked A for [[ethanol fuel|alcohol (ethanol)]] and G for gasoline.]]

A biofuel is a type of [[fuel]] whose energy is derived from biological [[carbon fixation]]. Biofuels include fuels derived from [[biomass]] conversion, as well as [[Biofuel#Solid biofuels|solid biomass]], [[liquid fuels]] and various [[biogas]]es.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Biology and genetic improvement of Jatropha curcas L.: A review| journal = [[Applied Energy]] | volume = 87 | issue = 3 | year = 2010| pages = 732–742 |author1=B.N. Divakara |author2=H.D. Upadhyaya |author3=S.P. Wani |author4=C.L. Laxmipathi Gowda | doi = 10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.07.013| bibcode = 2010ApEn...87..732D | url = http://oar.icrisat.org/174/1/nset10.pdf }}</ref>

[[Bioethanol]] is an [[Alcohol (chemistry)|alcohol]] made by [[Ethanol fermentation|fermentation]], mostly from [[carbohydrate]]s produced in [[sugar]] or [[starch]] crops such as [[Maize|corn]], [[sugarcane]] or [[switchgrass]].

[[Biodiesel]] is made from [[vegetable oil]]s and [[animal fat]]s. Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using [[transesterification]] and is the most common biofuel in Europe.

[[Biogas]] is [[methane]] produced by the process of [[anaerobic digestion]] of [[organic material]] by [[anaerobe]]s.,<ref>Redman, G., The Andersons Centre. [http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/metadot/index.pl?id=7198;isa=DBRow;op=show;dbview_id=2457 "Assessment of on-farm AD in the UK"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113120322/http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/metadot/index.pl?id=7198%3Bisa%3DDBRow%3Bop%3Dshow%3Bdbview_id%3D2457 |date=2010-11-13 }}, ''[[National Non-Food Crops Centre]]'', 2008-06-09. Retrieved on 2009-05-11.</ref> etc. is also a renewable source of energy.

===Biogas===
{{main|Biogas}}
[[Biogas]] typically refers to a mixture of [[gas]]es produced by the breakdown of [[organic matter]] in the absence of [[oxygen]]. Biogas is produced by [[anaerobic digestion]] with anaerobic bacteria or [[fermentation (biochemistry)|fermentation]] of biodegradable materials such as [[manure]], [[sewage]], [[municipal waste]], [[green waste]], [[plant material]], and crops.<ref>[[National Non-Food Crops Centre]]. [http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/publications/nnfcc-renewable-fuels-and-energy-factsheet-anaerobic-digestion "NNFCC Renewable Fuels and Energy Factsheet: Anaerobic Digestion"], Retrieved on 2011-02-16</ref> It is primarily [[methane]] ({{chem|CH|4}}) and [[carbon dioxide]] ({{ CO2}}) and may have small amounts of [[hydrogen sulphide]] ({{chem|H|2|S}}), moisture and [[siloxane]]s.

===Natural fibre===
{{main|Natural fiber}}

Natural fibres are a class of hair-like materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to pieces of [[yarn|thread]]. They can be used as a component of [[Composite material|composite]] materials. They can also be [[felted|matted]] into sheets to make products such as [[paper]] or [[felt]]. Fibres are of two types: natural fibre which consists of animal and plant fibres, and man made fibre which consists of synthetic fibres and regenerated fibres.