Biomass Utilization as an Alternative Energy Source - Term Paper Example

Biomass is the source of energy which is being utilized in different ways, using different processes, in different parts of the world. It finds its use in several areas of a region such as greenhouse and college campus. It is even found helpful in reducing the forest fire hazards of a country. While there are several benefits that come along with Biomass energy, there are also certain disadvantages linked with it, the most critical being the control of the carbon emissions made during the process but these emissions can be controlled or minimized to a great extent by the application of efficient methods. Biomass is one of the earliest sources from which energy can be derived. Although it has been utilized in the world since quite some time, but still it remains unknown to many. Biomass is also referred to as the transformation of the energy which is stored in the dead plants including trees, their branches, wood, crops and even the livestock or animals into a reusable form of energy which can be utilized for other purposes (Morris, 1999). Biomass provides energy for cooking and heating purposes, chemical and liquid fuels and electrical energy. Biomass is responsible for providing 14% of the energy supply throughout the world. Biomass finds majority of its uses in developing countries specifically the rural areas (Hall and Moss, 1983). This is the reason why biomass energy is available easily at any place and any time. But if a country or a company wants to use biomass as an alternative form of energy, it first needs to collect the biomass i.e. the dead plant, trees and wood, incinerate it; the steam generated during this process of incineration is then used to run steam turbine which in turn, generates electricity. In a similar manner, the biomass can also be used in a substitutive method which is also known as Gasification. In this process, the biomass is heated to a very high temperature which produces a flammable gas; this flammable gas is used to run the turbines responsible for generating electricity. Based on the information provided on California Energy Commission website, California alone harvests 60 million tons of biomass annually; this means that approximately 2000 MW electricity is generated from it. This electricity is sufficient to power two million houses (The Energy Story, 2002). There are many countries who have discouraged the use of biomass as an alternative source of energy due to the negative impacts it creates on the environment however, there are many benefits of using biomass that cannot be neglected such as; The Biomass Energy Group (BEG) came to a conclusion that a biomass industry based in Scotland can supply up to 350 MW of electrical energy and has created employment opportunities for 2000 people and has also helped in the progress of various other sectors of the Scottish economy (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland, 2005). Apart from this, The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that approximately 490 million wet tons of biomass is produced in the USA annually, this is equivalent to 413 million dry tons of biomass (Haq, 2002). The generation of electricity from fossil fuels is one of the most commonly employed methods of the world. But the generation of electricity using biomass has its own limitations which are regulated by certain regulations (Haq, 2002). Biomass power systems are of four types: Modular system, direct fired, co-fired and gasification. Majority of the power plant which utilizes biomass are of direct fired system which is almost similar in techniques as fossil fuel fired plant. In the first step the biomass is scorched in a boiler at very high temperature to produce steam of very high pressure. This steam is then allowed to enter into a steam turbine; here it is circulated over a sequence of blades of aerodynamic turbines, which causes the turbines to rotate. This turbine is linked with an electric generator. Therefore when the steam flows and the blades rotate electricity is generated. Power boilers of biomass are usually categorized in the range of 20 to 50 MW when compared with plants that run on coal in the range of 100 to 1500 MW (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland, 2005). Hence it has been suggested for certain areas such as Ashland, United States that it would be useful if coal turbines are used to produce electricity during peak season whereas the biomass turbines are used in the season when electricity is utilized less (Haq, 2002). Nonetheless, generation of electricity through direct combustion of wood is the leading technique. Furthermore, it might not be beneficial until and unless it is used in combination with other alternative methods such as gas or coal (Slesser and Lewis, 1979). Employing biomass as alternative method of generating electrical energy produces economical benefits. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous in societies or industries which are setup on a small scale. It can also be used as a means of producing electrical energy in developed nations of the world where other resources are not sufficient to fulfill the energy requirements. Biomass is available in cheap prices and is available easily. It helps to reduce the unemployment rate in a country. The establishment of a biomass power plant n various regions of UK will also help the government to counteract unemployment in the region (Wood-Fuelled Power Station To Be UKs First, 2005). Similar to all the other renewable sources of energy, biomass also has certain disadvantages. The most talked about disadvantage is the affect that it produces on the environment in the form of global warming. Since biomass is responsible for producing carbon emission. Contrary to popular belief that biomass is available anywhere and everywhere, it will be very difficult to find biomass in areas which are located in deserts and hence it will be costly for the country who imports biomass for generation of electricity. Biomass energy generators can be installed in small scale green houses where a large amount of heat is required to provide heat to the crops either fruits or vegetables. Two greenhouses in Finland have installed Biomass heating systems which run on the burning of wood chips or pellets; whichever might be available at that time. These green houses run on the conventional method of producing energy through oil sources but when the oil prices go up, they switch to this alternate form of energy. The boilers are installed at premises near to the green house itself and generate a variable amount of heat depending upon the size of the boiler, in case of these green houses up to 3 MW and 400 kW of heat is produced. The heating system is also fitted with equipments which control combustion and reduce the emission created from the biomass. The installment of these biomass heating systems has also reduced the unemployment rate in the locality (Case Studies: Agricultural Facilities, u.d.). Biomass systems are also implemented at various college campuses which have helped in cost savings. One such example being Mount Wachusett community college which is all heated with the help of woodchips. The college saves about $3.1 million dollars by burning woodchips instead of the conventional method of heating which utilized oil as a source. The only that was faced during the installation of this heating system was the control of carbon emission. The heating system contains a multi cyclone which removes the particulate matter and a bag house system which now efficiently reduces the carbon emissions. A similar case was found in University of Idaho wherein the campus saved $5000 per day and $5million per year. In this system the biomass not only provides the heat but also serves as an air-conditioning unit because of the installation of water chillers along with it (Case Study: Campuses, u.d.). Biomass is also used in reducing the forest fire hazards. Waste wood is utilized in the formation of biomass and hence is helpful in reducing such hazards which are very common in various regions of the world (Forest Fire Hazard Reduction, u.d.). In order to gain maximum benefits from the biomass energy, certain standards can be set which will help the bioenergy industry to progress and evolve. Biomass energy that is crucially selected, grown with a sense of responsibility and is competently transformed into usable form of energy helps to minimize carbon emission and reduce the adverse effects that it produced on the land, water and soil. The most reliable source of biomass is the timber harvest residues which are the part of the tree top and the branches. Timber residues can be easily extracted from the forest in a particular amount, without jeopardizing the well being of the wildlife habitat. For the production of liquid fuels, harvested cover crops, willow, switchgrass and various other crops of non invasive origin which can be only grown on lifeless lands which are not suitable for growing food can be used instead of corn or soybean. This is considered the state of the art bio-fuel which has the capability to convey improved environmental performance and has less effect on the rates of both food and feed. It is better if rewards are granted to those farmers who grow environmentally viable form of biomass and are conscious about the yield and eco friendly benefits that their land is capable of producing such as the wildlife habitat, clean water and a more fertile soil. Natural resources defense council promotes and rewards such farmers who produce sustainable biomass. There are cities like Massachusetts who are currently at the forefront in creating standards for biomass energy which minimizes carbon emission and conserves forest both locally and nationally. These standards which are set by Massachusetts will restrict the use of whole timber in the production of biomass and will also provide incentives for those who utilize the short rotation crops, waste from woods and the harvest residues from timber (NRDC: Renewable Energy For America: Biomass, n.d.). In conclusion, it could be said that the utilization of biomass for generating electrical energy would be beneficial for many people in reducing the unemployment rate of a country. Furthermore, the billions of dollar spent annually on the purchase of oil or coal for generation of electricity could be reduced to a certain extent, hence providing an added economical benefit. Biomass can also be utilized through various other methods which it makes it more flexible method and although the production of electricity is less than the contemporary methods, yet the installation of biomass energy units in small villages and towns will be economically beneficial as compared to the use of fossil fuels. Works Cited Morris, Gregory Paul. The Value Of The Benefits Of U.S. Biomass Power. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1999. Print. Hall, D.O., and PatriciaA. Moss. Biomass For Energy In Developing Countries. GeoJournal 7.1 (1983): n. pag. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Energyquest.ca.gov, the Energy Story - Chapter 10: Biomass Energy. N.p., 2002. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland,. Promoting and Accelerating The Market Penetration Of Biomass Technology In Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive, 2005. Print. Haq, Z. EIA - Biomass for Electricity Generation. Eia.gov. N.p., 2002. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Slesser, M, and C Lewis. Biomass As A Nonfossil Fuel Source. A Halsted Press Book, 1979. Print. The Scotsman,. Wood-Fuelled Power Station To Be UKs First. 2005. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Biomasscenter.org,. Case Studies: Agricultural Facilities. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Biomasscenter.org,. Case Study: Campuses. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Biomasscenter.org,. Forest Fire Hazard Reduction. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Nrdc.org,. NRDC: Renewable Energy For America: Biomass. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. Read More