Biomass Energy

Biomass Energy
-Organic material that can be used as an energy source
-Examples: wood, crops, seaweed, manure
-Renewable Energy Source
-Example: replant crops/forests
-Used around the world, especially in rural & developing
nations

Wood is used for heating

and cooking purposes.

Pellets made from corn

stalks can be used in
pellet stoves. People use
these to heat their homes.

Methane gas is collected

off of decaying seaweed
and used in gas engines.

Some Types of Biomass

Energy
-Wood and Agricultural Products
- Home Grown Energy
-Landfill Gas
-Methane gas is collected, purifies, and used as an
energy
source
-Anaerobic Digesters
-Animal waste is chemically broken down which
produces
methane gas

Biomass Energy

-Industry is the biggest consumer of biomass

energy
For Example:

The Tokyo Gas Co. is converting seaweed

into biomass energy by allowing
micro-organisms to break down the seaweed.
Methane gas is collected during this process
and then mixed with natural gas. The gas
company uses this energy to power their office.

Biomass Energy
-Until the mid-1800s, wood provided about 90% of
the United States energy
-Today, biomass (all-not just wood) provides about 3%
of the
United States energy
-What came about in the mid-1800s that caused this
change in energy use?

Biomass Energy
Gaggle Tube: Energy 101-Biofuels
(2:56)

Advantages (Pros)
-Biomass energy is gathered from natural products

-Planting (and replanting) trees and crops will help

keep the
earths carbon dioxide levels balanced
-Relatively inexpensive compared to other energy
sources
-Biomass energy contains little sulfur and nitrogen
-does not contribute the pollutants that cause
acid rain

Disadvantages (Cons)
-Can easily lead to the depletion of natural resources
-Examples: logging forests, over harvesting of
crops
-Biomass produces greenhouse emissions (carbon
dioxide)
-It takes more energy to produce compared to the
energy you get out
-Biomass crops are not available all year

There was a man who, in

1979, traveled from
Jacksonville, Fl to Los
Angeles, Ca on wood he was
using in his biomass gasifier
attached to a Chevy Malibu.
He would travel 1 mile for
every pound of wood. Not
the most efficient use of fuel.

http://www.alternative-energyresources.net/biomass-energy-disadvantages.html

Sources:

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1112876
http://www.comforthomeandhearth.com/pelletstoves
http://planetfriendlysolutions.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.html
http://www.energydigital.com/green_technology/algae-biomass-increased-by-more-than-50-percent
http://movies-theodorecalebkenneth.blogspot.com/2011/03/seaweed-salad-calories.html
http://www.amrenewables.com/biomass-energy/biomass-energy-benefits.php

Use your Energy Book to answer the following

questions:
1. Which types of energy are nonrenewable?
Why?
2. Which types of energy are renewable?
Why?
3. How does solar energy work?
4. Why are fossil fuels harmful to the
environment?
5. What are some disadvantages to wind
and geothermal power?
6. Which type of energy do you think is the
best to use and why?
7. Which type of energy do you think is the