Biomass Use

Biomass is an abundant resource, biomass refers to a wide range of potential energy sources from wood, straws, grasses and energy crops. It also includes food waste and many other resources currently regarded as waste. We need to use these resources more efficiently, and they can play an important role in removing our dependence on foreign oil and fuels which emit carbon emissions. However, to use biomass more efficiently, the biomass have to be processed. Biomass in its raw form is impractical and very had to handle and burn efficiently. Therefore to use biomass more effectively, it can be processed into both liquid, gaseous and more advanced solid fuels such as pellets. Pellets are a highly compressed form of the original biomass material. Through compression and moisture reduction, the biomass burns much more efficiently and is easier to handle and burn.

Biomass Renewable Energy and Fuels

Though biomass is often burnt to release its energy, this does not have a negative effect on the environment as many people still believe. Some are under the impression that combustion of any kind is bad for the environment, however it depends on the raw material and how it is burnt. Biomass during its growing cycle consumes carbon dioxide. When biomass goes through combustion it releases the same carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Biomass therefore has a neutral effect on the levels of carbon dioxide within the atmosphere. With fossil fuels however, they are stored forms of carbon which we extract and then burn. This places additional carbon dioxide into the air, which is one of the main causes of climate change.

Not only are we able to use biomass as a carbon neutral form of energy, but biomass is also a renewable form of energy. With fossil fuels we consume a far greater volume than oil and gas occur naturally. Therefore these are none renewable forms of energy, and we will at some point use all the resources available to us. However biomass, alone with other forms of renewable energy such as solar and wind, provide an alternative. We can replace the biomass we use, so the cycle can continue. This means we have a source of energy that we can rely on and leave for future generations to power the future.

Biomass Cogeneration and Electricity

One of the most efficient ways to use biomass is to generate both heat and electricity at the same time. This can be down via several processes, either through capturing additional heat and tuning it into kinetic energy to power a generator, or via processing the biomass into a gas which can be used in an internal combustion engine to power a generator. A gasifier can be used to turn biomass into syngas. With a one to one ratio of syngas and air this can be used in an internal combustion engine. The engine can then be used to turn a generator and the waste heat that comes from the engine can be used for heating. An internal combustion engine generates one unit of heat for every one unit of mechanical energy. This clearly shows how much energy is wasted by not capturing residual heat from current energy solutions. Therefore CHP units can play an important role in energy.

The Wood Pellet Production Guide © PelHeat Ltd - Biomass Use