Biomass

=What is biomass? =

Biomass is a general term for living material - plants, animals, fungi, bacteria. The Earth's biomass represents an enormous store of energy. Estimates claim that just one eighth of the total biomass produced could provide all of humanities current energy demands.

Biomass can be regrown and is therefore a potentially renewable resource. it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect, provided that the biomass is harvested sustainably. Although derived from living material, coal, gas, oil and other fossil fuels (the main producers of greenhouse gases) do not qualify as biomass.These fuels require millions of years to form and are therefore not renewable.

Biomass energy is derived from five different energy sources: garbage, wood, waste, landfill gases, and alcohol fuels. The most conventional way in which biomass is used relies on direct incineration, with forest residues, yard clippings, wood chips and garbage typically used. Biomass also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers or chemical and biodegradable that can be burnt as fuel. Biofuel can be burned to heat buildings or drive electricity generators.

Biomass can be converted to other usable forms of energy like methane gas or transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Rotting garbage, and agricultural and human waste, release methane gas - also called "landfill gas" or "biogas."

Crops like corn and sugar cane can be fermented to produce the transportation fuel, ethanol. Biodiesel, another transportation fuel, can be produced from left-over food products like vegetable oils and animal fats.

Biomass, unlike some other renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels, allows the energy to be stored and used when needed with minimal energy loss. (Storing electricity from wind turbines and solar panels requires batteries and so results in significant energy loss.)



** Biomass conversion process **
The various biomass types require conversion to become a renewable energy source. There are a number of conversion technologies, some which release the energy directly, in the form of heat or electricity, others that convert it to another form, such as liquid biofuel or combustible biogas.

__ Thermal conversion: __ Heat is used to convert the biofuel to another chemical or more convenient form. Some of the applications of thermal conversion are combined heat and power (CHP) and co-firing.

__ Chemical conversion: __ Biomass can be converted into other forms using a range of chemical processes. This may produce a fuel that is more conveniently stored, transported or used or may exploit a property of the process itself.

__ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Biochemical conversion: __ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">As biomass is a natural material, many highly efficient biochemical processes have developed in nature to break down the molecules of which biomass is composed, and many of these biochemical conversion processes can be harnessed. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Biochemical conversion makes use of the enzymes of bacteria and other micro-organisms to break down biomass.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Environmental impact
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">In the U.S., Biomass produces 1.4% of the overall electricity supply. Biomass generation reduces dependence on oil preserves landfill space.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Swot Analysis
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Large plants require transportation over long distances. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Small plants require high investment cost and have low electrical efficiency. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Co-generation opportunities improve efficiency and lower costs. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Potentially utilises __free__ waste resources. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Improving technologies can improve efficiency and lower cost.. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Improving technology for alternative clean generation (wind, hydro, etc). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Increasing oil costs = Increasing transportation costs. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">If supply cannot meet demand Biomass generation will fail. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Improved efficiency will create greater demand. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">A barrier to widespread use of biomass for power generation is low conversion efficiency. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Residue from digesters is a very rich fertiliser. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Re-growth of forests for Biomass generally takes longer to recapture the stored carbon. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Energy required (much of it by fossil fuels) to grow and harvest fuel crops and for transportation. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Development of fast-growing forests to recycle carbon rapidly and displace fossil-fuel use with every cycle. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Biomass is used faster than it is produced = non-renewable energy. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Intensive farming and fertilisers. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Direct energy release - heat or electricity <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Conversion - biofuel or biogas || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Limited appropriate technology for some classes of biomass. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Development of more versatile technology. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Further co-use alternatives. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Alternative generation methods become more versatile. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Seasonal variations may affect the availability of biofuels. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Opportunities to store large amounts of energy produces for long-term use. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Population growth may cause competition for resource availability. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">More widely available than fossil fuels. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In nature biomass has a low bulk density (large volumes are needed compared to fossil fuels to produce the same amount of energy). || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Biomass generation liked directly to fuel sources, becomes a part of a chain of processes. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Cheap high-quality biomass becomes scarce. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Competition for farming land. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Over-forestation for fuel. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Co-firing in coal plants can reduce <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">ash, dust, NOx and SO2 emissions. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Air pollution – carbon monoxide, NOx, VOCs, particulates - possibly at greater levels than traditional fuel sources (coal, natural gases, etc) || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Despite harvesting, biomass crops may sequester carbon. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Nutrients from ash produced returned to forests/land = fertilisation. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Mature forests sequester carbon more effectively than cut-over areas. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Protection of long standing forests. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Strength ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Weakness ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Opportunity ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Threats (risks) ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Cost ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Uses low cost waste products. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Transportable liquids - Biodiesel and Ethanol production extremely expensive.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Uses low cost waste products. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Transportable liquids - Biodiesel and Ethanol production extremely expensive.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Efficiency ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Co-firing remains the most efficient use of biomass for power generation. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">In a typical biomass power plant, generation efficiencies range from 20-27%.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Sustainability ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">When using agricultural sources/plant matter as fuel - planting for new growth.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Versatility ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Biomass energy is derived from five different energy sources.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Longevity ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Mankind will always produce waste as a by-product of their activities/existence. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">About 11% of world’s energy from biomass. 50% of this is wood – Unsustainable? || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Improved technology efficiency = more competitive. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Longevity barriers - cost, low conversion efficiency and feedstock availability. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Intermittency ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Biomass allows energy to be stored and used when needed with minimal loss. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Requires constant supply of waste material.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Energy Production ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">When compared to coal (23 - 30MJ/kg) the energy available from oven dry plant matter (20MJ/kg) and methane gas (55MJ/kg) are good to better. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">When compared to coal (23 - 30MJ/kg) the energy available from green wood (8MJ/kg) is far behind. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Opportunities small scale localised production serving a family/several families together. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The energy production is not as efficient or cost effective to remain competitive. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Fuel availability - Reliability ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Ideal sites for biomass burners - near sources which create large amounts of organic waste.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Environmental Impact ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Carbon dioxide produced may be equal to amounts absorbed during plant growth.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Plant Requirements ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Close proximity of fuel allows larger plant and increases generation. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">One of largest consumptive water users of all thermoelectric power plants. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Small scale localised plant may serve communities (e.g. anaerobic digesters) || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Plants and fuels sources too distant to make economically viable. ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Economical ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Growing biomass for energy provides a livelihood for farmers || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Not economically competitive at present to allow for huge expansion. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Modernised biomass energy provides basis for rural development and employment, curbing urban migration. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Industrialised countries abandon biofuel farming due to food crop overproduction. ||