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BIOMASS
Lecture-11
Aitazaz Ahsan
10-ME-04
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OBJECTIVES
In this lecture we have learned about
Learn about the pros and cons of biomass energy
and it sustainability
Learn about the production and implementation of
biomass energy
Learn about technical aspects of biomass and how
they can be overcome
Learn about the regulations impacting biomass use
Develop an educated opinion about the
sustainability of biomass as an alternative energy
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INTTRODUCTION
Biomass is a renewable energy source that is derived from living
or recently living organisms.
Biomass includes biological material, not organic material like
coal.
Energy derived from biomass is mostly used to generate
electricity or to produce heat.
Thermal energy is extracted by means of combustion, Torre
faction, pyrolysis, and gasification.
Biomass can be chemically and biochemically treated to convert
it to a energy-rich fuel.
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Bio Mass as a Potential Energy
Source?
California produces more than 60 million bone dry tons of
biomass each year.
5 million bone dry tons are now burned to make electricity
If it were all used, the 60 million tons could make close to
2,000 megawatts of electricity
Would give enough energy to power 2 million homes
About 6% of Canadas energy needs are met by biomass,
but that could be greatly increased
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Potential Energy Source?
In the United States, we already get 45 billion kilowatt-
hours of electricity from biomass, about 1.2 percent of
our nation's total electric sales
Estimates of the ultimate potential for biomass energy
vary, depending on agricultural forecasts, waste
reduction by industry, and paper recycling
The Department of Energy believes that we could
produce four percent of our transportation fuels from
biomass by 2010, and as much as 20 percent by 2030
For electricity, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
estimates that energy crops and crop residues alone
could supply as much as much as 14 percent of our
power needs.
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Projected Non-hydroelectric Renewable
Electricity Energy Generation by Energy
Source, 2010 and 2020 (billion KWH)
Source: DOE Energy Information Administration
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DISAGREEMENTS In Using
Bio Mass:
Biomass has a smaller energy
content for its bulk than fossil
fuels
Costs of labor, transportation,
and storage would then be
higher
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ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES
Renewable resource
Reduces landfills
Protects clean water supplies
Reduces acid rain and smog
Reduces greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide
Methane
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BIOMASS AND CARBON EMMISIONS
Biomass emits carbon dioxide when it
naturally decays and when it is used as an
energy source
Living biomass in plants and trees absorbs
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through
photosynthesis
Biomass causes a closed cycle with no net
emissions of greenhouse gases
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GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
Comes from the forest
Can also come from plant and
animal waste
Wood and waste can be found
virtually anywhere
Transportation costs
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ENHANCEMENT
Wood is the largest
resource
Expand by using other
plants, residues, or waste
Finding different materials
to use as fuel
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DEVELOPMENT
Many areas could be
used
Potentially supply more
than 20% of US energy
supply
Bioenergy crops will be
More important in future
Come closer to area that
Need energy
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TECHNICAL IMPEDIMENTS
Trees and other biomass is hard to gather
There is a low output of 34% energy gain
Development of cheapo and reliable combustion techniques that will not
release pollutants
Development of gasification techniques that incorporate hydrogen to create
syngas
Biomass contains less energy per pound than fossil fuels
Cost-inefficient to transport more than 50 miles before it is converted to fuel
http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/nn/nn_rt/nn_rt_bm/article_1112_en.htm
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SOLUTION:
The solution is to have decentralized processing plants
This means less transport of biomass
This is more cost-efficient
More reliable, regular, and better quality
Less competition between companies
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ENVIRONMENTAL
DISADVANTAGES OF BIO MASS
Crop and forest residues often contain high
concentrations of important nutrients
If the residue is harvested as energy, the nutrients can be
lost to the surrounding environment.
Other synthetic chemical nutrients or fertilizers can later
be added
More plants and trees must be planted, because they will
be used in a higher quantity
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SUSTAINIBILITY:
Biomass is sustainable but there is an expense in
producing and converting biomass into fuels and
electricity.
Collecting biomass turned out to be very different than
harvesting, as loggers gained more experience the process
became much more efficient.
While biomass is one of the best forms of renewable
energy, it is not a great fuel.
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SUSTAINIBILITY
Removing too much biomass can use up nutrients from
the soil and possibly increase erosion.
Biomass supplies about 15 times as much energy then
solar and wind in the United States, and has the potential
to supply much more.
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CONCLUSION
Biomass is a potential alternative to fossil fuels but it is
not very viable.
There are many problems in the development and
transportation of it and carbon is a byproduct of
processing of biomass, just like it is a byproduct of fossil
fuels.
There are better alternative energies.
Regards
10-ME-04
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