Information on Biomass energy !

Biomass is one kind of matter that is usually categorized as garbage and most people don't think of it as alternative energy source. Before the surge of solar alternate energy and wind renewable energy, this had been a critical source of renewable energy in the United States of America.

In fact until 2009, it was the largest source of renewable electricity in the United States and now stands second to wind energy production.

Many people wonder if bio mass is a renewable energy source? The answer is yes and it is for two reasons; 1) energy generated using this renewable source comes from the sun (although indirectly); and 2) biomass substances can re-grow over a relatively short period of time (think plants, trees, grasses etc.).

Solar energy information | Wind energy information

When we say that the energy comes from the sun indirectly, we are talking about the process of photosynthesis where the green pigment (chlorophyll) taps into solar energy and converts carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground into carbohydrates—complex compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Don't we all remember the chemical equation for photosynthesis from middle/high school?

Most scientists believe that a wide range of this energy source provide renewable energy and is beneficial in reducing our carbon prints. See a few resources listed below:

1) energy crops that don’t compete with food crops for land;

2) crop residues such as wheat straw or corn stover;

3) sustainably-harvested wood and forest residues; and

4) municipal and industrial wastes.

Therefore, this renewable energy source is a very viable options specially in countries that have a large agricultural base, live stocks, and urban wastes such as India and China.

Materials that provide Biomass Energy | Biomass India

Now, when it comes to animal waste products such as manure, bio gas as a renewable energy source provides a great opportunity. What do we do with tons of animal waste at at animal feed lots (cattle, cow, chickens)? One can put a system in place to tap the methane gas that is given off by the decomposition of the manure. This gas then can be burned at the farms to create energy to run the establishment.

This alternative energy can also be generated from other sources called bone dry which comprised of anything from lumber, urban wood waste, agricultural and forest residues, and other feedstocks. As an example, the state of California produces more than 60 million bone dry tons of biomass each year. Of this total, only five million bone dry tons is now burned to make electricity. We could make close to 2,000 megawatts of electricity if we were able to use all of California's bone dry material. This much electricity will be sufficient to power about 2 million homes. Isn't it amazing that this renewable energy source has a strong potential to provide alternatives to traditional energy sources !!!

Go to Alternative Energy Resources from Biomass Energy

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