What is Biomass Energy?

What Is Biomass. Biomass is dead biological matter, and can include tree branches, wood chips and yard clippings. Biomass is typically obtained from processing agricultural, forestry crops and harvesting.  In order to create electricity the biomass is burned, creating steam and then turn turbines, this process known as cogeneration. Next, the steam is used for other processes such as drying out vegetables.

Another source of energy called biomass is one of the ways forward in stabilizing (and/or reducing) the CO2 in the atmosphere and reducing our dependency on fossil fuels. The "biomass" refers to organic thing which can be converted to energy; the name "biomass" being invented in approximately 1975 to describe natural materials used as energy resources.

Usually commercial bio-refinery produces large quantities of waste that mostly sold as animal feed. This bio-refinery waste can be used as a source of energy, such as for heating, electricity or as a fertiliser.
Despite huge increase in the coal prices as well as an increases in the price of crude oil during 2006 and 2007, the cost of production various bio-energy fuels still do not match the production prices of fossil fuels like coal.

Currently, approximately 0.5 percent of electricity generation in the United States is utilized by biomass. Compared to fossil fuel combustion, this small percentage saves approximately eleven million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.  The energy converted from biomass also changes methane to carbon dioxide.  The emissions of methane are far more harmful to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Thus, in the fight against global warming, this process is considered a highly valuable tool. 

One fact that biomass was once the primary source of heat across the globe since firewood is considered a source.  

The energy is able to be produced from a great percentage of our waste, and many cities are starting to converting this waste to energy. It creates renewable and environmentally friendly energy and reducing landfill bound waste.

Is it a Practical Source of Energy?

Biomass or any organic material is made by animals and plants. The biomass includes all parts of animal flesh, plants, and excretions such as manure. 


Since fossil fuel is believed that they come from ancient animals and plants, they are also a biomass. But usually when people speak of biomass, it is material produced from sources that are alive now or were recently.

We can use Biofuel as a new technology in the future to help solve energy supply problems. Newer technologies have allowed us to making other biofuels from the use of biomass. Biomass can be burned or made into methane, bio diesel or alcohol to power electric generators. Biofuels have not been practical or cost effective since during this process a lot of energy is lost in converting biomass into the other forms of energy or fuel.

Pellets made from wood and other biomass may be practical and the most efficient way to utilize the energy in biomass.

The using of biomass as a renewable energy source heating with biomass pellets is economical, practical and the distribution systems and technology are already available.

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