In Japan, researchers have developed a waste biomass charcoal heater with a thermal efficiency range of 60-81 percent, compared to existing biomass stoves which have a 46-54 percent thermal efficiency. Scientists say that deployment of the next-generation heaters in Asia, where rural homes typically use charcoal burned on portable grills for home heating, could greatly reduce carbon emissions. A study in ACS’ Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research found that more efficient use of forest biomass could reduce Japanese emissions by 4.46 million tons of CO2-equivalent.
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