Generation of Electricity using Biomass in Nova Scotia - Term Paper Example

? Table of Content Introduction 2. Discussion 2 Potentiality of generating electri from biomass 2:2. Biomass fuelled electricity production in Nova Scotia 3. Methodology 4. Conclusion 5. Works cited Generation of Electricity using Biomass in Nova Scotia 1. Introduction Electricity production using biomass in Nova Scotia (Canada) has become a bone of content these days. In order to address the rising electricity cost, the Department of Energy in Nova Scotia is seriously thinking about generation of electricity from biomass in the region. People are deeply at odds over the proposal, for many support this idea when some others question the viability and sustainability of this project. Evidences suggest that today many countries are successfully generating electricity from biomass to resolve their electricity crises. Referring to the shortcomings of other major electricity generation techniques and the available resources of Nova Scotia, it can be argued that electricity generation from biomass will be a potential proposal for the region. This paper will discuss why Nova Scotia must generate electricity from biomass to meet its power needs and to make electricity cost affordable to its people. 2. Discussion 2:1. Potentiality of generating electricity from biomass “Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms” (Biomass Energy Centre). Biomass is a broader term that represents diverse fuels derived from agriculture and food wastes and timber. Sewage sludge and animal manure may also form biomass fuel whereas it is also derived from trees. Considering the regeneration capacity of trees, it seems that biomass fuels are renewable. In the context of rapidly deteriorating non-renewable energy resources, the biomass fuels have a vital role to play in the electricity generation. According to Milness, while compared to most solar and wind technologies, biomass fuelled electricity generation is more feasible because the former technologies may fail to generate electricity in the absence of sunlight/wind. As biomass technologies for electricity generation are based on combustion processes, they have the potential to generate electricity at any time regardless of climatic variations. Currently, lumber or other wood wastes are burnt in most biomass power plants. According to Augustine and Bockenhauer, in direct combustion power plants, biomass fuel is burnt direct in boilers which in turn provide steam for steam-electric generators. Under the biomass gasification process, biomass is initially converted into methane which is capable of fuelling steam generators, fuel cells, and combustion turbines. The major benefit of biomass gasification over direct combustion is that “extracted gasses can be used in a variety of power plant configurations” (Power Scorecard). The major argument against biomass fuelled power plants is that they cause air emissions. Although this argument is valid and has many environmental reasons to justify, it is not sufficient to abandon the concept of biomass fuelled electricity. Air emissions can be reduced by carefully choosing fuel and technology. There is a common perception that electricity generated using renewable technologies is more expensive than the electricity generated from fossil fuels. Although it may be true in the case of wind energy and solar energy, electricity generation using biomass is cost-effective. In addition, this technique is considered to be greenhouse neutral. This feature is really advantageous in the context of current global warming and climate change issues. According to the findings of US Energy Information Administration, biomass fuelled power plants assist the agriculture industry to solve waste disposal problems. In terms of availability, biomass is better than other renewable technologies such as solar energy. Since biomass is easy to convert into high energy portable fuel forms like gas or alcohol, electricity can be easily generated from biomass without the application of complex technologies. Another potential advantage of this concept is that the need for biomass is likely to lead to restoration of trees in deforested areas. In other words, this project would avoid deforestation to some extent. Hence, it greatly contributes to ecological balance and environmental sustainability. If electricity is generated from biomass on a continuous basis, the process will be helpful to reduce the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide. To illustrate, more trees will be planted to meet biomass needs and those trees in turn absorb carbon dioxide when they grow. In short, this technique has the potential to be energy neutral. 2: 2. Biomass fuelled electricity production in Nova Scotia Recently, the Nova Scotia Department of Energy framed a Renewable Electricity Plan that represents a detailed program to move from carbon-based electricity to greener and local sources based electricity production. Currently, fossil fuels are used to meet 90% of the province’s electricity demands. The major fossil fuel used is coal, which is bought from external suppliers. The Department of Energy points out the fact that the over-dependence on a single fuel source weakens Nova Scotia’s energy security and makes fuel prices unaffordable to the province’s households. Hence, the department strongly says that development of a greener and renewable source of electricity is necessary to improve the living standards of Nova Scotia families. As per the plan, the department aims to generate 25% renewable electricity by 2015 (Nova Scotia Department of Energy). Experts suggest that biomass can play a great role in achieving the target set by the government. Another potential feature of this project in Nova Scotia is that the province has plentiful source of biomass (‘Nova Scotia Renewable…’). As Macgregor points out, Nova Scotia’s forest land (nearly 4.3 million hectares) covers roughly 77% of the region. Therefore, it is possible to obtain uninterrupted supply of biomass for the continuous production of electricity. Regulators indicate that 30,000 small-woodland owners live in Nova Scotia. In the province, small-woodland owners are defined as individuals possessing 2-2000 hectares of land (as qtd in Macgregor). Hence, these individuals’ decision to supply material from their land can have a great influence on the supply chain of the biomass. According to a study conducted by Margo Macgregor to understand Nova Scotia small-woodland owners’ attitudes towards electricity generation from biomass, it is clear that many woodland-owners have misinterpreted the term biomass. The study recommends that small-woodland owners would support this project in the province once their different confusions and fears regarding the biomass usage are addressed. Currently, biomass accounts for only 13% of the total renewable electricity generation (1690 GWh) in Nova Scotia even though this province has abundance of forest resources available (Macgregor). In contrast, many other regions across Canada and other parts of the globe deploy biomass to generate a significant portion of their total renewable energy. To illustrate, the province of Ontario used biomass to produce 78% of its renewable energy in 2009 (Centre for Energy). As of 2011 data, Denmark’s 70% of the renewable energy generation is fuelled by biomass even though the country has only 11% forested land (Danish Energy Agency). Therefore, Nova Scotia’s growing energy needs and the renewable energy target for 2015 can be easily met if the government takes potential initiatives to promote the establishment of biomass fuelled power plants. Since this project has the potential to make the electricity cost affordable, major stakeholder groups concerned are likely to support its development. In short, Nova Scotia has greater potential to enhance the electricity generation from biomass considering the abundance natural resources available. Therefore, biomass can serve the province’s renewable energy needs in future better than what solar energy or wind energy would do. 3. Methodology This research used a mixed approach to identify the potentiality of biomass fuelled power generation in Nova Scotia. Mail-out surveys were extensively employed to collect the opinions of small-woodland owners across the province of Nova Scotia. Since it was not practical to meet small-woodland owners in person beyond a certain limit, mail-out surveys were sent to over 300 small-woodland owners. Names and addresses of small-woodland owners were collected using DNR landowner database. Collected survey results were sorted on the basis of attitudes of participants towards the project. In addition, focus group method was also used to complete this research. Full time residents of the province who were unhappy with their electricity bills were selected to conduct the focus group. For this, a total of 100 persons were chosen. Finally, this research also depended on some previous conducted studies on the topic. As part of this approach, the Renewable Electricity Plan set out by the Nova Scotia Department of Energy was critically evaluated. Microsoft Excel and spreadsheets were used to conduct some statistical analyses and to calculate percentages. Statistical data and small-woodland owner’s opinions were specifically analyzed to reach conclusions. 4. Conclusion From the above discussion, it is clear that many provinces and countries across the globe have been successfully using biomass to generate a notable portion of their total renewable energy over the last few decades. Biomass is an energy-neutral source that has more potential to promote uninterrupted electricity generation as compared to other common methods like solar energy and wind energy. Although Nova Scotia has a huge size of forested land (77%), biomass is not effectively used in the province to fuel renewable energy generation. It is identified that major stakeholders including small-woodland owners would support the use of biomass in electricity generation if their concerns regarding the project are addressed. Therefore, it is recommendable for the government and regulators to closely work with local communities to convince the stakeholders about the necessity of this project for the betterment of the province. Works Cited Augustine, Byron and Bockenhauer, Mark. Electric Power Generation from the Direct Combustion of Feedlot Waste. Southwest Texas State University. Web 9 Feb 2013 Biomass Energy Centre. Web 9 Feb 2013 Danish Energy Agency. Web 9 Feb 2013 Milness, Julian. Britain 'to tap into biomass potential'. H & V News, 2012 Aug 8. Web 9 Feb 2013. Macgregor, Margo. Small woodland owners’ attitudes towards energy from forest biomass in Nova Scotia. Dalhousie University, 2011. Web 9 Feb 2013 Nova Scotia Department of Energy. Renewable Electricity Plan, 2010. Web 9 Feb 2013 Nova Scotia Renewable Energy Strategy –Scenarios and Policy Options. 2009. Web 9 Feb 2013 Ontario Statistics. Centre for Energy. Web 9 Feb 2013 Power Scorecard. Electricity from Biomass. PACE. Web 9 Feb 2013 US Energy Information Administration. Biomass for Electricity Generation. Web ( Feb 2013 Read More