Table of contents• What is it?• What is it used for?• Diagram of a biomass power plant• How do biomass power plants work?• Biomass power plants in Galicia• Use and production of biomass in Spain• Use and production of biomass in Europe• Advantages and disadvantages• The dark side of biomass• Video

What is it? Biomass is the utilization of organic materials as sources of energy by means of combustion, anaerobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis.

What is it used for?It is used to generate heat or electricity for domestic or industrial purposes.

Diagram of a biomass power plant

How do biomass power plants work?

The organic matter burns slowly in an industrial oven which heats the water that is inside a steam boiler.The water turns into steam, which moves a turbine connected to a generator that produces energy. Finally, the steam condenses and turns into water, and the process starts all over again.

Biomass power plants in Galicia

• Ence, Pontevedra• Allarluz, Allariz• Congeneración de biomasa, Trado, Pontevedra• Congeneración Vales, Aranga, A Coruña• Babcock Kommunal MBH y Técnicas Medioambientales,

A Coruña

Allarluz

ENCE

Cogeneración Vales Coruña

Allariz

Aranga

Pontevedra

Babcock Kommunal MBH y Técnicas Medioambientales

A Coruña

Allarluz biomass power plant in Allariz, Ourense,the first biomass power plant that was inaugurated in Galicia

Use and production of biomass in Spain

It is the most widely-used type of energy in Spain and all over the world. Despite its potential resources, Spain is far behind in production compared with other countries.

Use and production of biomass in Europe

According to an information provided by the EurObserv’ER, the production of biomass energy in 2010 was 8% higher than in 2009. 83% of that production was destined to thermal applications and the other 17% was destined to the production of electricity.

Graphic of biomass production and consumption in the

European Union

The country that produces less biomass energy in the EU is Malta.The country that produces more biomass energy in the EU is Germany.

The dark side of biomassBiomass is a source of energy that is not as profitable as it was originally thought, taking into account that for a production of 12 MW, 40 000 MT (metric tons) of wood, rubbish or other organic substances are needed. Biomass is renewable and clean when sawmills are used correctly.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slQRWbRE8VI

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