Biomass Energy

www.thegreenage.co.uk

Jugal Amodwala and Joanna McDonald POE Block 4

What is Biomass?
Matter from plants and animals
stored energy

Unwanted material
tires, non-recyclables, wood, manure

One of most plentiful

50% of renewable energy

Convert to renewable energy source

material plentiful everywhere

www.auslaoconsulting.com/

Types of Biofuels
Biodiesel
Cleaner than fossil fuels
Made from a mix of resources including agricultural oils (usually
soybean), recycled cooking oil, and animal fats
Can be made with a blend of petroleum based oils

Bioethanol
gasoline alternative
plants - sugar cane/corn

Biomass Energy Usage

Biomass is used worldwide for energy but in varied forms
In poorer countries biomass is used in its raw forms
Most commercial biomass use is after it has been
refined somehow

Converting to Usable Energy

Many ways to convert
Thermal, Thermochemical, Chemical, Biochemical, Electrochemical
Biomass is sometimes converted to liquid before used
Increases efficiency while decreasing emissions
Transformed to diff. chemical matter
usable energy
Chemical converts to biofuels

Emerging Technologies
UK scientists are developing new methods of harvesting
plants for biomass
The plant is called miscanthus
Seed based hybrids

Biofuels in the airline industry

Several large airline companies have invested in biofuels
Various types of biomass can be used for jet fuels

Costs
Construction and operation - high price
technologies
environmental concerns
pollution
poss. excessive logging
$0.8 to $0.15 per kilowatt hour (kWh)

www.lakesrpc.org

Transmission and Transportation

Vehicle = important
bags - suitable for wood chips
Tipper trailer/truck, flatbed truck
wide range of applications
Rail
bulk
Ship
less-time intensive

 Generating liquid/gas
transmitted by truck, rail, pipeline
Generating electricity
electric transmission systems

Environmental Effects
Much cleaner than fossil fuels
70-80% cleaner than petroleum based fuels

Recycles pollution emissions

The plants grown for the fuels help to recycle carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere

There are risks of mismanagement which could lead to

negative effects like:
Unsustainable harvesting
Water overuse

Citations

"Biodiesel - America's First Advanced Biofuel!" Biodiesel - America's First

Advanced Biofuel! National Biodiesel Board, 2015. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.

"How Biomass Energy Works." Union of Concerned Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web.
06 Oct. 2015.

"UK Scientists Developing Ways to Produce Green Fuel Faster." Biomass

Magazine. Aberystwyth University Institute of Biological, Environmental and
Rural Sciences, 06 Oct. 2015. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.

"Biomass Energy." Biomass Energy, Definition of Biomass Energy and the Types of
Biomass Energy, Pros and Cons. Altenergy.org, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.

Citations (Continued)
Burg, Natalie. "How Biofuels Are Powering Change In The Aviation
Industry." Forbes. CIT, 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
"What Is Biomass?" Biomass Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2015. <http:
//www.biomassguide.com/what-is-biomass/>.
"(Bio)Mass Confusion." WSJ. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2015. <http://www.
wsj.
com/articles/SB10001424052748704116004575521713188253290
>.
"Biomass Energy Development." Biomass Energy Development. N.p., n.d.

Citations (Continued)
"Biomass Energy." Biomass Energy. Altenery, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/biomass.html>.
"Biomass Energy." The Energy Story. Energy Quest, n.d. Web. 01 Oct.
2015. <http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter10.html>.
"Biomass Energy." Biomass Energy. A Student's Guide to Global Climate
Change, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.
"Biomass Conversion Technologies." Conversion Technologies. Biomass
Energy Centre, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.
"How Biomass Energy Works." Union of Concerned Scientists. UCSUSA,
n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.