Uses of Biomass EnergyUses of Biomass Energy

HeatingHeating CookingCooking Compost Compost

MaterialMaterial ElectricityElectricity

BiomassBiomass

How It WorksHow It Works

Waste wood, branches, Waste wood, branches, & other scraps gathered & other scraps gathered by trucksby trucks

Bring waste from farm Bring waste from farm to power plantto power plant

Biomass dropped into Biomass dropped into huge hoppershuge hoppers

Fed into furnace and Fed into furnace and burnedburned

Heat used to boil water Heat used to boil water in boilerin boiler

Creates steams, turning Creates steams, turning turbinesturbines

Energy SourcesEnergy Sources

Wood is largest biomass energy sourceWood is largest biomass energy source Food cropsFood crops Grassy and woody plantsGrassy and woody plants Residues from agriculture or forestryResidues from agriculture or forestry Organic component of municipal and Organic component of municipal and

industrial wastesindustrial wastes Fumes from land fills (methane gas)Fumes from land fills (methane gas)

Benefits of BiomassBenefits of Biomass

Burning biomass releases CO2, but equals out Burning biomass releases CO2, but equals out amount of CO2 plant took in over its lifespanamount of CO2 plant took in over its lifespan

Reduce dependence on foreign oilReduce dependence on foreign oil Unlike other renewable energy sources, Unlike other renewable energy sources,

biomass can be converted directly into liquid biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called "biofuels" fuels, called "biofuels"

What would it replace?What would it replace?

Biomass energy would Biomass energy would replace non-renewable replace non-renewable energies such as natural energies such as natural gas, nuclear, coal and gas, nuclear, coal and other mainstream other mainstream energy sources. energy sources.

Where is it being used?Where is it being used?

It is used throughout the United StatesIt is used throughout the United States Biomass is currently the second most Biomass is currently the second most

commonly used form of renewable energy in commonly used form of renewable energy in the U.S.the U.S.

ProsPros

Reduction of “new” greenhouse gas emissionsReduction of “new” greenhouse gas emissions Less dependency on foreign oil with use of Less dependency on foreign oil with use of

ethanol and biodieselethanol and biodiesel Support the economy by increasing demand Support the economy by increasing demand

for suppliers of the biomassfor suppliers of the biomass

ConsCons

High costs installing the technologyHigh costs installing the technology High cost growing, harvesting and storing the High cost growing, harvesting and storing the

raw materialsraw materials Burning the biomass creates liquid and gas Burning the biomass creates liquid and gas

wasteswastes

Challenges we would face…Challenges we would face…

The main problem that we would face in The main problem that we would face in making this a mainstream form of energy making this a mainstream form of energy would be cost. Installing the technologies that would be cost. Installing the technologies that would be able to burn, recycle and refine the would be able to burn, recycle and refine the biomass would cost very much. It would biomass would cost very much. It would involve a large risk to begin depending on this involve a large risk to begin depending on this form, no one is sure if it could sustain large form, no one is sure if it could sustain large regions. regions.

Will it become mainstream?Will it become mainstream?

Very significant chance of becoming Very significant chance of becoming mainstream.mainstream.

People want more renewable energy to replace People want more renewable energy to replace non-renewable energy.non-renewable energy.

More than 40 countries are expanding in More than 40 countries are expanding in biomass power generation.biomass power generation.

Specific Infrastructure NeededSpecific Infrastructure Needed

Increase production of crops is vital to making Increase production of crops is vital to making biomass energy.biomass energy.

Biomass power plants to burn the crops and Biomass power plants to burn the crops and make the energy.make the energy.

Works CitedWorks Cited "The Energy Story - Chapter 10: Biomass Energy." "The Energy Story - Chapter 10: Biomass Energy." Energy Quest RoomEnergy Quest Room. . 05 05

Feb. 2009 <http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter10.html>. Feb. 2009 <http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter10.html>.

““NREL: Learning - Biomass Energy Basics." NREL: Learning - Biomass Energy Basics." National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Home PageHome Page. 05 Feb. 2009 . 05 Feb. 2009

<http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biomass.html>.<http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biomass.html>.

"Renewable Energy - Biomass including wood, MSW, and biofuels, carbon cycle, photosynthesis." "Renewable Energy - Biomass including wood, MSW, and biofuels, carbon cycle, photosynthesis." Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. GovernmentGovernment. 05 . 05 Feb. 2009 Feb. 2009 <http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/biomass.html>.<http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/biomass.html>.

"EERE: Biomass Program Home Page." "EERE: Biomass Program Home Page." EEREEERE. 05 Feb. 2009 . 05 Feb. 2009 <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/>. <http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/>.

Miller, G. Tyler. Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the EnvironmentLiving in the Environment. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, 2001. . Belmont: Brooks/Cole, 2001.