Biomass Energy Definition – What is Biomass Energy?

What is Biomass Energy?

Biomass Energy Definition – Biomass is an industry term for getting energy by burning Organic material that comes from plants and animals. Plants or plant-based materials that are not used for food or feed, and are specifically called lignocellulosic biomass.

Biomass is a renewable and sustainable source of energy, it can either be used directly via combustion to produce heat, or indirectly after converting it to various forms of biofuel.

Materials used to makeup Biomass fuel are:-

Animal manure and human sewage
Agricultural crops and waste materials
Food and wood waste in garbage
Forest Residues and wood processing wastes

Burning biomass releases carbon emissions, around a quarter higher than burning coal, but has been classed as a “renewable” energy source of fuel because:

Plants can be regrown.
We will always have Forest Residues, wood processing wastes, Agricultural crops and waste materials.
Easily available animal manure and human sewage along with the Food waste in garbage can be used in a fruitful manner.

Burning Biomass is a only one way to release its energy. Biomass can be converted to other useable forms and used for energy such as:

Agricultural crops and waste materials—burned as a fuel or fermented to produce liquid biofuels such as ethanol.
Animal manure and human sewage—converted to biogas such as Methane, which can be burned as a fuel.
Food, yard, and wood waste in garbage—burned to generate electricity in power plants or converted to biogas (Methane) in landfills
Wood and Wood processing wastes—burned to heat buildings, to produce process heat in industry, and to generate electricity

Biomass and Environment

Biofuels offers several environmental benefits over fossil fuels. Biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass have reduced emissions and fixed CO2 (a greenhouse gas). When a new bio-refinery is established, several technologies will be assembled based on their impact on the environment, such as

Air pollution caused by particulate emission during biomass harvesting and grinding.
Noise pollution from explosive pre-treatment processes.
Methods for producing pre-treatment chemicals that produce greenhouse gas emissions.
Release of pre-treatment chemicals to the environment after processing.

Biomass and the World

According to a report from International Energy Agency (IEA) biomass use in the industrial and transport sectors, covers approximately 10% of the global energy supply, of which two-thirds is used in developing countries for cooking and heating.

In 2009, about 13% of biomass use was consumed for heat and power generation, while the industrial sector consumed 15% and transportation 4% . The global consumption of biofuels in transportation equalled 2% of the transport sector total.

Topic: Biomass Energy Definition.

Image Source: International District Energy Association