Pros And Cons Of Biomass Energy

Biomass renewable energy is the power that originates from methods using biomass matter.

Fremont, CA: Biomass definition is simply 'organic matter. That means it comes from anything alive or been alive, including animal waste, crop waste, garden waste, and so on. The especially good thing about biomass is that it's renewable, with an infinite supply. The even better thing is that we can turn it into biomass heat.

BIOMASS ENERGY

Biomass renewable energy is the power that originates from methods using biomass matter. The first way is simply to burn the organic matter to create heat to generate steam, which then goes through a turbine system to create electricity. Special biomass plants take care of biomass production, storage, and distribution.

The second is to transform biomass into a liquid fuel that can again be burned to make energy that can run many forms of transport. Biofuel and fertilizer can be made from putrefying gasses emitted by rotting food in specialist containers called anaerobic digestors. The just biomass energy definition of turning waste into electricity is an exciting prospect and one that any logic dictates as a good idea to pursue.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS ENERGY

Biomass Energy Pros

• Biomass is a pretty infinite energy source as it's a by-product of all the processes we used earlier. From farming for the sake of forest management to food waste, there is often fresh material – so it's renewable!

• And that matter is a waste product, which means it's dependable, found almost all over the world, and comes at a highly low cost!

• Biomass fuel is carbon neutral. It doesn't create any extra carbon since it's already endured the natural process of photosynthesis, meaning it's already done its job of absorbing CO2.

• Being more economical than fossil fuels gives biomass the edge. New technology means biomass energy production is more efficient and less destructive than fossil fuels.

• As it's cheaper to make and it's made of waste means a high-profit margin for biomass producers.

• Decreasing landfill and overall waste is key to managing carbon levels. It's said up to 90% less waste could go to landfill if biomass turns more mainstream. That implies lower CO2 from transporting it all there too.

• Installing a biomass boiler decreases household CO2 contributions by as much as 9.5 tons each year, making it incredibly green to run your home heating.

Biomass Energy Cons

• Biomass production plants require a very large area to work and store, which is limiting for any urban area. When biomass plants grow their matter, they require even more space, which means a higher cost for the surrounding landscape. That means the technologies for creating biomass energy are always improving, so the need for a lot of space could change.

• Biofuel alone isn't as effective as fossil fuels and, sometimes, uses more energy to burn the organic matter than it produces. It often has to be mixed with petrol and diesel to bring its efficiency up to speed. This alone implies that biomass isn't available to use on a large scale.

• Thanks to methane gases contained within the animal waste, biomass isn't squeaky clean – far from it. Methane is about 30 times more potent for global warming than carbon dioxide. Burning natural materials like wood also emits un-environmentally friendly pollution such as nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. In spite of biomass being carbon neutral, it is still releasing carbon dioxide into the air, which puts it behind carbon zero technologies like wind.

• Despite waste wood being in plentiful supply, there are concerns about the requirement for more being met by deforestation. Utilizing wood to create biomass means increased demand, leading to deforestation. When biomass production, plants raise monoculture crops, which strips nutrients from the soil and eliminates biodiversity. When algae are used to produce biomass, it relies upon phosphorus fertilizers that damage the water supply for the surrounding area.

• Biomass construction plants are costly. The harvest, transportation, and storage of organic matter can be expensive and go beyond what other renewable sources need, like solar power. Irrespective, biomass is still less pricey to harvest than mine for fossil fuels.