A Biomass Source That Can Make Good Fuel Pellets

Renewable and alternative energy are taking a greater role in providing heating, electricity and transport fuels. Wind and solar energy are common interpretations of alternative or renewable energy, however biomass is also an important element and has specific benefits.

Biomass can provide power on demand, unlike wind or solar. With wind and solar if the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, there is no power. Biomass is solar energy captured through the process of photosynthesis. Through combustion and other chemical processes we can releases the energy stored within the biomass on demand. So what source of biomass do we have available to use, and are some biomass sources more practical than others? Well biomass refers to lots of things, wood, grass, straws basically any organic material which can be used to generate energy. Each source of biomass performs differently under combustion, and some grow much quicker than others. In most cases the appropriate source of biomass is what suits the available local land and whether condition to achieve the best yields. For example if corn is grown locally for food, this is a source of biomass. The corn should always be used for food, however the cobs and stalks can be processed into pellets for energy. Here is an existing crop which generates both biomass and food. Dual revenue food/fuel crops could play a significant role in the future as they make the best use of land. But food should always and only be used for food, not fuel.

Biomass Bioenergy and Renewable Fuel

A source of biomass is a source of renewable energy, as we can simply replace the biomass we use for energy with more biomass, and quickly. If you take hemp for example, it only requires 3 months of growth from seed and generates some of the best yields of any biomass crop. Also as biomass is already part of the current carbon cycle no additional carbon emissions are produced during biomass combustion.

Biomass Burner and Wood Pellet Boilers

So now the point moves onto how to use and burn biomass efficiently, reducing maintenance and increasing heat output. Well, biomass in its raw form is very bulky and generally contains a lot of water. This means its very hard to get the biomass to burn well, and a lot of time and effort would be spent on achieving a good burn. These issues can be resolved however, by processing your source of biomass into pellet form. Through compression, the biomass is give a consistent size and shape, with increased density and low moisture content. These qualities are ideal to achieve a clean highly efficient burn which generates the required heat while reducing manual maintaince.

The Wood Pellet Production Guide © PelHeat Ltd - A Biomass Source That Can Make Good Fuel Pellets