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BIOMASSLecture-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 livingor recently living organisms.•Biomass includes biological material, not organic material likecoal.•Energy derived from biomass is mostly used to generateelectricity or to produce heat.•Thermal energy is extracted by means of combustion, Torrefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification.•Biomass can be chemically and biochemically treated to convertit 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 ofbiomass 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 to2,000 megawatts of electricity

Would give enough energy to power 2 million homes

About 6% of Canada’s 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 itnaturally decays and when it is used as anenergy source

Living biomass in plants and trees absorbscarbon dioxide from the atmosphere throughphotosynthesis

Biomass causes a closed cycle with no netemissions 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

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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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