Large-Scale Biomass Combustion - Essay Example

Large-Scale Biomass Combustion Introduction Biomass is regarded as the term that refers to the organic materials which are obtained from different plants and animals. It includes different gases as well as liquids that are derived from the decomposition of biodegradable organic substances. Biomass, as a form of resource has been viewed to be continuously formed by the interaction of carbon dioxide (CO2) with air, water and sunlight. It also encompasses the dead remains of biological species that can be utilized further as a fuel or chemical product (Basu, 2010). In this similar concern, energy is fundamentally described as the ability or the capacity of an individual or a person to perform a particular task. It possesses a significant need in everyday life. For instance, energy is being used for various activities that include the execution of cars for moving one place to another and televisions for the purpose of entertainment among others. Moreover, energy is also used for producing electricity and heat for different purposes. It has been apparently observed that a large percentage of energy is obtained from the combustion of biomass (Need, 2012). In this paper, a critical discussion about the use of sustainable energy will be taken into concern. Moreover, the determination of large-scale business combustion as one of the sustainable options for energy generation will also be discussed in this paper. Large Scale Biomass Combustion as a Sustainable Option for Energy Biomass Combustion is principally described as the method of burning through which 90% of the world’s energy is released to supply heat and energy services like material processing that includes food preparation, electricity and transportation. It has been viewed as the process through which fuels are burnt with the help of oxygen (Overend, 2004). Biomass Combustion Biomass combustion is considered as the oldest type of combustion that largely exploited by human beings. It is also regarded as one of the most complicated forms of combustion system. This process of combustion entails the use of solid fuels in a multi-phase reaction system interacting with different mass fluxes. The prime understanding of the solid fuel combustion system reveals with reference to the fact that only fuel can burn and release heat. It has also been viewed that solids and liquids do not burn by themselves but consume heat in the process of drying which are required to be chemically transformed into fuel gas. There are several different materials that can be considered as biomass. These materials include solid wood, fats and proteins (Overend, 2004). The process of biomass combustion fundamentally takes place in 6 phases that comprise drying, coke combustion, volatile ignition as well as emission, volatile flame burning along with volatile flame extinction. It has been apparently observed that the process of biomass combustion initially takes place in the homogenous stage and later in the heterogeneous stage. The procedure of the biomass combustion can be better understood with the help of the following illustration. Fig.1: Process of Biomass Combustion Source: (NEST, n.d.) The deliverance of sustainable energy has been noted to be one of the critical issues in recent times linked with the procedure of biomass combustion. In this similar context, it can be stated that human beings might face a tough challenge in the upcoming years about accessing different energy sources. According to various researches, biomass combustion is regarded as an important source that might make a greater contribution towards the fulfilment of the demand for energy in future. Presently, it has been viewed that biomass is one of the largest contributors towards producing renewable energy globally and can be used as a sustainable option for energy generation by a greater extent. It has also been observed that biomass possess high potential in increasing the production of heat and electricity for transport. Various researches revealed that, if the energy from biomass is managed carefully, then the result would provide a larger contribution to the global energy supply. Additionally it would also result in lessening the emissions releasing from various greenhouse gases that would ultimately benefit the environment by a greater degree (Bauen & et. al., n.d.). World’s Potential to Biomass Product Biomass combustion has been viewed to be one of the decisive sustainable options for energy generation due to its significant features. In this similar concern, the features comprise disposal of different waste products and greatly producing solid fuels among others. The current potential for biomass in the world is around 6.419 billion out of which 2.48 billion tons has already being utilized. It is estimated that the total forest area of the world is around 4 billion hectares that consist 30% of land area. It has been apparently observed in this circumstance that Asia is the only continent that utilized biomass at the utmost level with scope for further improvement, while biomass in other parts of the world remains highly underutilized (Gupta & Demirbas, 2010). Biomass potential concerning different regions of the world can be better explained with the help of the following graphical representation. Fig.2: Biomass potential in different regions of the world. Source: (Gupta & Demirbas, 2010) As a source of renewable energy, the potential for biomass combustion contributing towards acting as a sustainable option for energy generation can be calculated in terms of determining the production rates of energy annually. Currently, the different sources of biomass combustion are agricultural by-product, forestry by-product and urban as well as animal waste among others. Other than these sources, certain crops like sugarcane, eucalyptus trees and sorghum have also been regarded as potential sources of biomass combustion (Michaelides, 2012). There lies every probable chance of increasing the production of biomass by utilizing the unused wastes and residue. Aquatic biomass such as Algae could make a vital contribution in the production of biomass resource by a considerable level. The technological potential concerning biomass combustion would be as high as 1500 EJ/yr by the year 2050 and is expected to be in between 600 to 1000 EJ in future. From this estimation, it can be projected that the future demand for generating would not be a critical issue by a greater degree. Thus, on the basis of the above discussion, it can be stated that that biomass could effectively as well as extensively contribute towards generating substantial portion of global energy (Bauen, n.d.). Merits and Demerits of Using Biomass There are numerous merits as well as demerits of using biomass. In order to determine the merits of using biomass, it has been viewed that the use of biomass reduces the dependency of human beings on fuel and petroleum products. Moreover, it also reduces the release of the greenhouse gases by a greater degree. The process of production of the biomass energy includes the use of waste materials that would eventually reduce worry for disposal. Most importantly, the increasing demand for biomass ultimately creates huge opportunity for employment in rural areas. Furthermore, the increasing use of bio energy or biomass would enable different countries to reduce their dependence on other countries for acquiring oil and other petroleum related products (Letcher, 2008). With regard to determine the demerits of using biomass, it has been apparently observed that there laid certain environmental threats while using biomass. In this regard, one of the critical threats may be in the form of depleting biomass that would increase the CO2 present in the air and lead towards climate change. Moreover, the depletion of biomass would also affect the ecosystem and might lead towards causing pollution and release of greenhouse gases at large (Letcher, 2008). Obstacle in the production of energy from biomass There are certain obstacles that have been identified in the production of energy from biomass. The different obstacles have been provided hereunder. Feedstock Supply The major obstacle in the large scale production of energy from biomass can be the inconsistent supply of feedstock. It has been viewed in this context that only 50% of the present availability of feedstock is being utilized in conducting various purposes. The incomplete utilisation of feedstock supply can become an obstacle in the energy production from biomass in terms of disposing considerable wastes (ECN, 2012). Energy Crops Another obstacle in the production process of energy from biomass has been identified to be the emergence of new crops that would be produced for non-energy as well as non-food reasons. These particular new crops may possess higher value as compared to biomass fuel that would ultimately make the processor to spend more for biomass. Moreover, the production of the crops that would be used for various non-energy along with non-food reasons might ultimately act as an obstacle in the production of energy from biomass in the form of soil depletion (ECN, 2012). Wastes Agricultural wastes are generally regarded as the by-products for biomass that are not readily optimised towards the purpose of producing energies. Due to this particular reason, various unfavourable aspects like corrosivity, generation of inorganic material and abrasivity can act as an obstacle in producing energy from biomass (ECN, 2012). Critical analysis Biomass is typically regarded as a low cost source of renewable energy that possesses the potential for making large-scale production. It has been apparently observed that bio energy can displace around one-third of the present demand especially for petroleum fuels. After acquiring a brief idea about the facets of biomass combustion, it can be stated that a large-scale execution of biomass combustion can be used as a sustainable option for energy generation. But, conversely, it has been viewed that the different aforementioned obstacles can impose adverse impact upon generating sustainable energy (EPA, n.d.). According to various researches, energy sources that encompass wind and solar among others could be accessible on a discontinuous basis, but biomass can be abundantly accessible. This is owing to the reason that the technological potential for biomass has been predicted to increase in future. Though it can be stated that a large-scale business combustion is used as a sustainable option for energy generation, still there exist certain critical challenges that might cause inefficient energy generation. In this similar context, the challenges may include unfavourable environmental impacts, limited feedstock supply and ineffective infrastructures among others (EPA, n.d.). One of the decisive contributions of bio energy to the environment is the restricting the release of various greenhouse gases. It has been viewed that biomass is quite effective in this modern day context due to its rapid use and possession of significant advantages. There are various advantages of using biomass for producing energy. This can be explained with reference to the fact that biomass possesses the ability to replace petroleum and other sources of energy at large. It utilizes the wastes and remains of industries to produce alternative energy sources by a greater degree. By taking into concern the modern day scenario, it has been viewed that the cost of living of human beings is increasing drastically. A major reason in this regard could be the increasing price of petroleum and other energy sources. Increased usage of bio energy would be a significant step in this regard. Moreover, the abundant availability of biomass energy all around the world made it a sustainable option for the generation of energy in the long run (EPA, n.d.). Conclusion It can be stated from the above discussion that biomass is regarded as a significant option for the processing of energy for present as well as for the future generation. It has been viewed that biomass is available plentifully throughout the globe and its technological potential is expected to rise. Moreover, using biomass for the process of producing energy would provide numerous benefits to mankind. It would reduce total dependency of countries on export of petroleum as well as other fuels and protect the environment by lessening the release of various greenhouse gases. It can broadly be stated that increasing demand for biomass would provide greater employment opportunities in rural areas. However there pertain certain negative factors or challenges in producing energy from biomass. The challenges may include limited feedstock supply, negative environmental impacts and inefficient infrastructures. As a whole, it can be concluded that large scale combustion of biomass can be used as a sustainable option for energy production in the longer run that would be vital for the future generation. References Bauen, A. & et. al., No Date. Bionergy- A Sustainable and Reliable Energy Source. IEA Bionergy, pp. 1-108. Basu, P., 2010. Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis: Practical Design and Theory. Academic Press. ECN, 2012. Advanced Techniques for Generation of Energy from Biomass and Waste. Obstacles. [Online] Available at: http://www.ecn.nl/fileadmin/ecn/units/bio/Overig/pdf/Biomassa_voordelen.pdf [Accessed February 19, 2013]. EPA, No Date. Benefits, Challenges, and Consideration of Bionergy. Documents. [Online] Available at: http://epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/bioenergy_chapter3.pdf [Accessed February 19, 2013]. Gupta, R. B. & Demirbas, A., 2010. Gasoline, Diesel and Ethanol Biofuels from Grasses and Plants. Cambridge University Press. Letcher, T., 2008. Future Energy: Improved, Sustainable and Clean Options for our Planet. Elsevier. Michaelides, E. E., 2012. Alternative Energy Sources. Springer. Need, 2012. What is Energy. Information. [Online] Available at: http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/ElemInfo/IntroE.pdf [Accessed February 19, 2013]. NEST, No Date. Basic Process for Wood Energy Conversion. Pages. [Online] Available at: http://www.nest.unifei.edu.br/portugues/pags/downloads/files/Capitulo_4F.pdf [Accessed February 19, 2013]. Overend, R. P., 2004. Direct Combustion of Biomass. Renewable Energy Sources Charged with Energy from the Sun and Originated from Earth-Moon Interaction, Vol. I, pp. 1-9. Bibliography Walker, N., 2007. Biomass: Fueling Change. 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