What Is The Advantage Of Biomass Energy? There Are Several
Besides the advantage of biomass energy over fossil fuel as a renewable alternate energy source,it has a number of others too.
Yes, it has also, deservedly, had some bad press over its effects on rising food prices but this page is about advantages.
Some advantages of this
renewable energy
are
*It is renewable
*Sources are commonly available
*Sources are locally produced
*Uses low-cost waste products
*Proven technology
*Biogases can be used in high-efficiency combined cycle plants
Advantage of biomass energy - Sources are commonly available
Sources of biomass are many. Here are a few
wood
woodchips
paper
trash,
corn, maize
sugar cane
canola
sunflower
linseed
soy beans
grains
switchgrass
animal waste (slaughtering),
manure,
sewage
food scraps
hemp
wheat straw
vegetable oil
algae
silage
bagasse
whey
rice husks
and many more
Advantage Of Biomass Energy - Sources are locally produced
Any society that can produce a major proportion of its energy needs from locally produced, renewable sources will be a very different one to the present.
The fossil-fuel dependent global economy is beholden to producers in only a few countries. Inflation rates, currency values, interest rates, and therefore standards of living, are influenced now by the big price rises of crude oil.
Politically also, oil-producing countries have the world over a barrel!
Many of the biomass crops have to be produced by the agricultural sector and biomass energy production can involve by-products such as fertilisers, just like the petro-chemical industry now does.
Farmers would produce the energy to drive their equipment and vehicles as well.
Centrally held energy-based power could thus shift to local, domestic farmer groups with far greater control over their costs of production. The poor farming sector would thus be in control of energy food production.
Who knows what the full impacts of such important powershifts would be? Freedom from oil sheiks and effects of hurricanes? Energy might no longer underlie international conflicts.
BUT…
Of course, future societies, built on alternate energy sources, will be more diversified. And any such scenarios depend on influences of the other side of the coin, the
disadvantage of biomass energy.Advantage of biomass energy – It uses waste products
Apart from biomass energy derived from intentionally grown and harvested Crops, there are the products that might otherwise be left to rot. Now they can rot and keep us warm, light up our homes and drive our vehicles.
Advantage Of Biomass Energy Advantage Of Biomass Energy - Proven technology
Already in 1900 ethanol was competing with gasoline for vehicle fuel and before that wood was burned to produce steam power.
In 2002, USA biomass energy represented 9,733 megawatts of installed capacity, then the single largest source of non-hydro renewable electricity (US Dept of Energy).
Of this total 5,886MW represented forest and agricultural residues; 3,308MW from municipal waste; and 539MW other, such as landfill. More than 200 US companies provided biomass energy.
In other words, biomass energy is a proven industry with the technology to deliver power today.
Advantage Of Biomass Energy - Biogases can be used in high-efficiency combined cycle plants
Combined cycle plants use both gas and steam turbines to generate electricity at a high efficiency rate of 60%.
Advantage of biomass energy – Reducing greenhouse gases
When burning biomass mixed with coal in existing coal powerplants, several advantages of biomass energy combine.
It is an economic means of using biomass as no major modification to the coal plant is necessary and a new biomass energy plant does not need to be built. It is less costly than burning coal.
When compared with coal, biomass can reduce sulphur dioxide(SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other greenhouse gas significantly. Biomass conversion to electricity through co-firing achieves the same rate of efficiency as in a coal-powered plant.
Small biomass plants than the large can be set up for
Amazingly enough, it is relatively simple to
produce your own biodiesel
made from fats, grease or vegetable oil. In the USA it is mostly made from corn for commercial purposes. It is possible to use it in diesel vehicles without modifying them. It is renewable, emits greatly reduced greenhouse gases and is cheaper than petro-diesel.
Get all the detail in this comprehensive book on this subject:
Of course you enter into any DIY efforts at your own risk!
Now that you know a little about the
advantage of biomass energy
make sure you read about the disadvantage of biogas energy too before you start anything!