BIOMASS

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF GREEN ENERGY

 WHAT IS BIOMASS?
It is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms.
In the context of biomass for energy this is often used to mean plant
based material, but biomass can equally apply to both animal and
vegetable derived material.
is carbon based and is composed of a mixture of organic molecules
containing hydrogen, usually including atoms of oxygen, often
nitrogen and also small quantities of other atoms, including alkali,
alkaline earth and heavy metals. These metals are often found in
functional molecules such as the porphyrins which include chlorophyll
which contains magnesium.
 PLANT MATERIAL
The carbon used to construct biomass is absorbed from the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide (CO2) by plant life, using energy from the sun. Plants may
subsequently be eaten by animals and thus converted into animal biomass.
However the primary absorption is performed by plants.
If plant material is not eaten it is generally either broken down by micro-
organisms or burned:
If broken down it releases the carbon back to the atmosphere, mainly as
either carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4), depending upon the
conditions and processes involved.
If burned the carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2. These processes
have happened for as long as there have been plants on Earth and is part of
what is known as the carbon cycle.
 FOSSIL FUEL
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are also derived from biological material,
however material that absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere many millions of
years ago.
As fuels they offer high energy density, but making use of that energy
involves burning the fuel, with the oxidation of the carbon to carbon dioxide
and the hydrogen to water (vapour). Unless they are captured and stored,
these combustion products are usually released to the atmosphere, returning
carbon sequestered millions of years ago and thus contributing to increased
atmospheric concentrations.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIOMASS
AND FOSSIL FUEL
The vital difference between biomass and fossil fuels is one of time scale.
Biomass takes carbon out of the atmosphere while it is growing, and returns it
as it is burned. If it is managed on a sustainable basis, biomass is harvested
as part of a constantly replenished crop. This is either during woodland or
arboricultural management or coppicing or as part of a continuous
programme of replanting with the new growth taking up CO2 from the
atmosphere at the same time as it is released by combustion of the previous
harvest.
This maintains a closed carbon cycle with no net increase in atmospheric
CO2 levels.
 CATEGORIES OF BIOMASS
MATERIALS
The realities of the economics mean that high value material for which there is an
alternative market, such as good quality, large timber, are very unlikely to become
available for energy applications. However there are huge resources of residues, co-
products and waste that exist in the UK which could potentially become available, in
quantity, at relatively low cost, or even negative cost where there is currently a
requirement to pay for disposal. There are five basic categories of material:
Virgin wood, from forestry, arboricultural activities or from wood processing
Energy crops: high yield crops grown specifically for energy applications
Agricultural residues: residues from agriculture harvesting or processing
Food waste, from food and drink manufacture, preparation and processing, and
post-consumer waste
Industrial waste and co-products from manufacturing and industrial processes.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
 ADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS
1. No Harmful Emissions: Biomass energy, for the most part, creates no harmful
carbon dioxide emissions. Many energy sources used today struggle to control their
carbon dioxide emissions, as these can cause harm to the ozone layer and increase
the effects of greenhouse gases, potentially warming the planet. It is completely
natural, has no such carbon dioxide side effects in its use.
2. Clean Energy: Because of its relatively clean use, biomass energy, when used in
commercial businesses such as airlines, receives tax credit from the US government.
This is good for the environment and good for business. It does release carbon
dioxide but captures carbon dioxide for its own growth. Carbon dioxide released by
fossil fuel are released into the atmosphere and are harmful to the environment
3. Abundant and Renewable: Biomass products are abundant and renewable. Since
they come from living sources, and life is cyclical, these products potentially never
run out, so long as there is something living on earth and there is someone there to
turn that living things components and waste products into energy. In the United
Kingdom, biomass fuels are made from recycled chicken droppings. In the United
States and Russia, there are plentiful forests for lumber to be used in the production
of biomass energy.
 ADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS
4. Reduce Dependency on Fossil Fuels: It has developed as an alternate
source of fuel for many homeowners and have helped them to reduce their
dependency on fossil fuels.
5. Reduce Landfills: Another benefit of this energy is that it can take waste
that is harmful to the environment and turn it into something useful. For
instance, garbage as landfill can, at least partially, be burned to create
useable biomass energy.
6. Can be Used to Create Different Products: Biomass energy is also versatile,
as different forms of organic matter can be used to create different
products. Ethanol and similar fuels can be made from corn and other crops.
With so many living things on the planet, there is no limit to how many ways it
can be found and used.
 DISADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS
1. Expensive: Firstly, its expensive. Living things are expensive to care for, feed, and
house, and all of that has to be considered when trying to use waste products from
animals for fuel.
2. Inefficient as Compared to Fossil Fuels: Secondly, and connected to the first, is the
relative inefficiency of biomass energy. Ethanol, as a biodiesel is terribly inefficient
when compared to gasoline, and it often has to be mixed with some gasoline to
make it work properly anyway. On top of that, ethanol is harmful to combustion
engines over long term use.
3. Harmful to Environment: Thirdly, using animal and human waste to power engines
may save on carbon dioxide emissions, but it increases methane gases, which are
also harmful to the Earths ozone layer. So really, we are no better off
environmentally for using one or the other. And speaking of using waste products,
there is the smell to consider. While it is not physically harmful, it is definitely
unpleasant, and it can attract unwanted pests (rats, flies) and spread bacteria and
infection.
 DISADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS
4. Consume More Fuel: Finally, using trees and tree products to power
machines is inefficient as well. Not only does it take a lot more fuel to do the
same job as using conventional fuels, but it also creates environmental
problems of its own. To amass enough lumber to power a nation full of
vehicles or even a power plant, companies would have to clear
considerable forest area. This results in major topological changes and
destroys the homes of countless animals and plants.
5. Require More Land: Combustion of biomass products require some land
where they can easily be burnt. Since, it produces gases like methane in
atmosphere; therefore it can be produced in those areas which are quite far
from residential homes.
 APPLICATIONS OF BIOMASS
Biomass systems range from small stoves used in homes for heating or
cooking to large power plants used by centralized utilities to produce
electricity.
In residential applications, biomass can be used for space heating or for
cooking. Wood is the most common source of fuel, although many different
materials are used. New designs for woodstoves can improve the efficiency
of the cooking or heating system, decreasing the amount of fuel that is
needed.
Industry and businesses use biomass for several purposes including space
heating, hot water heating, and electricity generation. Many industrial
facilities, such as lumber mills, naturally produce organic waste.