Biomass Energy

Biomass Energy

The world relies heavily on fossil fuels, like oil, coal and natural gas as sources for energy, fuel and chemicals. (www.beral.org) These resources are subject to depletion as they are used day after day. Many scientists believe that there is only one naturally occurring resource large enough to be a substitute for fossil fuels, and that is biomass. (www.beral.org)

Wood, crop, and animal waste are all forms of biomass organic matter. Biomass energy utilizes the energy content in agricultural residues, such as corn fiber and rice straw. It also uses wood waste material, like sawdust and mill craps. Paper trash and urban yard clippings in municipal wastes are also forms of biomass. The areas of fast growing trees like poplars and willows, and grasses like elephant and blue stem are energy crop resources as well. The methane captured from land fills, municipal wastewater treatment facilities and manure lagoons on cattle, poultry and hog farms provide biomass material for power plants. (www.biomass.org)

Biomass energy can be used in several different ways. It can be used to generate electricity, heat or as liquid fuels for motor vehicles. There are thousands of manure lagoons, landfills and wastewater treatment plants that can collect methane, which can be used for generating electricity. Biomass energy has a number of advantages; however, there are some disadvantages. The advantages to biomass energy are: Biomass energy is readily available and is inexpensive for electricity generation. It is a clean fuel and does not increase CO2 if replanting occurs. It is also easily converted into different forms such as solid (direct burning), liquid (ethanol and methanol) and gas (methane). The barriers of biomass energy are it reduces soil fertility. In some areas the soil cannot be use again. Biomass energy must be carefully managed to be renewable. If the animal biomass is not carefully maintained, fecal contamination may occur....