With the ever-increasing energy demands, fossil fuels are gradually depleting and eventually, these nonrenewable sources of energy will be exhausted. Hence, there is an urgent need to formulate alternative fuels that are both renewable and sustainable. Biomass is one of the reliable sources of energy because it is replenishable. Rice is the staple food in many countries, particularly in Asia. The number of paddy fields has increased tremendously over the years and is expected to increase in the future in response to the growing world population. This will lead to significant amounts of agricultural wastes annually, particularly rice straw. In some countries, open burning and soil incorporation are used to manage agricultural wastes. Open burning is the preferred method because it is inexpensive. However, this method is highly undesirable because of its detrimental impact on the environment resulting from the release of carbon dioxide and methane gas. Hence, it is important to develop an energyharvesting method from rice straw for power generation. More studies need to be carried out on the availability and characteristics of rice straw as well as logistic analysis to assess the potential of rice straw for power generation. This paper is focused on reviewing studies pertaining to the characteristics and potential of rice straw for power generation, current rice straw management practices, and logistic analysis in order to develop a suitable energy-harvesting method from rice straw in Malaysia.

Fossil fuel depletion, along with its ever-increasing price and detrimental impact on the environment, has urged researchers to look for alternative renewable energy. Of all the options available, biomass presents a very reliable source due to its never-ending supply. As research on various biomasses has grown in recent years, waste from these biomasses has also increased, and it is now time to shift the focus to utilizing these wastes for energy. The current waste management system mainly focuses on open burning and soil incorporation as it is cost-effective; however, these affect the environment. There must be an alternative way, such as to use it for power generation. Rice straw and rice husk are examples of such potential biomass waste. Rice is the main food source for the world, mostly in Asian regions, as most people consume rice daily. This paper reviews factors that impact the implementation of rice-straw-based power plants. Ash content and moisture content are important properties that govern combustion, and these vary with location. Logistical improvements are required to reduce the transport cost of rice husk and rice straw, which is higher than the transportation cost of coal.