Biomass for a Sustainable Energy Resource

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by: Martyna Sroka
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Word Count: 561
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 Time: 4:33 AM
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Biomass simply stated is the accumulation of waste products from humans, animals and plants. Whether it be animal manure, plant clippings, wood chips, or the contents of landfills; a large portion of biomass is a sustainable source of energy that is not being appropriately reused to fuel our world. There are beneficial and harmful types of waste products; the harmful types are not reusable without harm to the environment.
The number of energy related products that can be realised from biomass is astounding. The most obvious example of this energy source is burning wood for cooking or heating purposes, which has been used throughout history. Since this is no longer the most efficient way to obtain those ends, the waste products need to be recycled into other forms of fuel for consumption.

Rotten garbage, animal and human waste biomass can be turned into methane gas. Sugar cane and corn can be converted into ethanol which can power engines or be used as an additive in gasoline fuels. Animal fats and used cooking oils can produce biodiesel fuel. The byproducts of forests, agriculture and animal husbandry are used in the production of electricity.

Biomass can be converted into renewable energy in various ways. Conversion can be employed to release electricity or heat. It can also change biomass to other products like biogas or liquid biofuel. Some waste products are suited to several uses while others have only one. Chemical processes are used for some conversions, while biochemical technologies use natural bacterial enzymes or microbes to accomplish conversion.

While these processes are natural recycling of organic materials at the most basic level, they can also produce carbon monoxide which is the major contributor to environmental pollution and global warming. The levels of pollutants produced can be higher than those produced by traditional fuel such as natural gas or coal.

Forestry by product biomass burning is a particularly hot topic presently, as many environmental organisations are arguing the harmful effects of biomass conversion on forests and climates. They cite disruption of soil cover and the soil's nutrients being removed when the forests are disturbed during regular tree harvesting or logging. Their reasoning includes references from scientific research that indicate that the carbon released when burning forest biomass may take decades to be reabsorbed by the newer growth of trees. They seem to overlook the fact that proper forest management requires the removal of invasive species and thinning in order to allow smaller more valuable trees to flourish. Thinning and removal of dead wood can also help to reduce the risks of forest fires and improve the health of the desirable species left behind.

Although using many forms of Biomass has the potential to harm the environment when being used to produce bio power, the fact remains that we must move forward into energy options that are completely renewable and sustainable. It must be done in such a way that it is not only environmentally safe, but is also a clean energy source. Biomass has the potential to meet these needs. Dependence on fossil fuels must be significantly reduced as quickly as possible; at the same time we need to substantially reduce greenhouse emissions in order to slow the process of global warming.

About the Author

Biomass is a growing industry, with many plumbing and heating supplies offering information online to find the right biomass options for your home and life style.