Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Biomass Solutions For Solving Energy Problems

By Serena Price


The fact is that biomass is the ultimate renewable energy source. As long as people continue growing and manufacturing their food, they will actually have enough sources for supplying all their energetic needs. The term is used for both animal and vegetable derived material, although people usually think only about vegetable sources. In fact, there are enough biomass solutions for solving all existing energy problems today.

Almost all agricultural residues can be used in production of biomass. Non agricultural residues and even different types of industry waste are also suitable for this purpose. For example, the waste from wood, textile and paper industry. Using waste as a source for producing clean and valuable electricity, heat or bio fuels is always a good decision.

Energy crops is a name for all plants that are grown only to be used in production of energy. Some are used as food crops as well, for example sugar cane and maize. Sunflower and other oil crops are great for producing bio fuels. Besides, after being digested by animals on the farm, all these crops will be transformed into valuable methanol, and used for heating, for example.

Non-agricultural sources can also be put into good use, instead being wasted. Forestry by-products and food manufacturing waste may be used in production of renewable energy. Consumer waste, as well as specific industrial waste could be a great source of materials that can be easily transformed into valuable energy.

Biomass products, such as bio ethanol, bio fuel and bio gas produce considerably lower quantities of pollutants, and are considered as low carbon fuels. Animal digestion transforms it into methane, and it is used for heating farms, for example. In short, biomass can be used as a source for numerous energy producing materials and become very useful.

Fossil fuels are more expensive, and produce more pollutants, including high levels of carbon dioxide. Coal is a little bit cheaper than bio fuel, but this really is the greatest pollutant of all fossil fuels. On the other hand, green, renewable sources are available locally, you don't have to pay high transportation costs and they don't emit dangerous compounds in the air you breathe.

In process of production of energy, bio fuels and other biomass products emit some carbon dioxide, but in lower concentrations. Besides, this carbon dioxide will be used by plants in the next cycle. The plants will, using sun and photosynthesis, transform this carbon dioxide into valuable nutrients and, in the end, in energy. This means that plants will first absorb it during growth, and than release it in the air again, in never ending cycle. Sustainable growth methods lower the final carbon emission additionally.

Considering the fact that natural gas and oil reserves are limited, biomass solutions become more important. With lower expenses and unlimited supply, this green and renewable energy source is absolutely needed today. The only problem with agricultural waste is that it is seasonal, and reliability of supply is uncertain. This problem is solved using dedicated energy crops such as perennial grasses. These fast growing grasses are easily grown in areas unsuitable for food crops.




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