Biomass PowerBiomass Power
By Zack Bekowies, Marion Berger, By Zack Bekowies, Marion Berger, and Tori Chrumkaand Tori Chrumka
Uses & FunctionsUses & Functions Most is used for heating, Most is used for heating,
cooking, and industrial cooking, and industrial processesprocesses
Used indirectly to drive Used indirectly to drive turbines and produce turbines and produce electricityelectricity
Can be used as fuel for Can be used as fuel for automobilesautomobiles
Supplies about 30% of the Supplies about 30% of the energy used in developing energy used in developing countriescountries
How it WorksHow it Works Harvesting of Harvesting of
fast-growing plantsfast-growing plants Collection of some crop residuesCollection of some crop residues THE PROCESSTHE PROCESS
Solid biomass fuels are collected and either burned Solid biomass fuels are collected and either burned or converted into gases or liquidsor converted into gases or liquids
Biogas, ethanol, methanol, and gasoholBiogas, ethanol, methanol, and gasohol These alternative fuels can be burned to serve as These alternative fuels can be burned to serve as
substitutes for gasoline and the like with less substitutes for gasoline and the like with less carbon dioxide emissioncarbon dioxide emission
AdvantagesAdvantages Large Potential SupplyLarge Potential Supply Moderately costlyModerately costly No net increase of carbon No net increase of carbon
dioxide if the biomass is harvested dioxide if the biomass is harvested sustainablysustainably
Plantation can be located on semiarid Plantation can be located on semiarid landland
Plantation can help restore degraded Plantation can help restore degraded landland
What current non-renewable energy What current non-renewable energy source would this replace?source would this replace?
Biofuel Biofuel fossil fuels, fossil fuels, -natural gas, etc.-natural gas, etc.
Biopower Biopower coal coal
BioproductsBioproducts fossil fuels fossil fuels
Case StudyCase Study Case study: BiomassCase study: Biomass biofuels (E-85) biofuels (E-85) 85% ethanol, 15% gas85% ethanol, 15% gas Flex-fuelFlex-fuel Pros: Cheaper Prices, Reduced taxes, government Pros: Cheaper Prices, Reduced taxes, government
incentives, reduces petroleum use by 70%, only incentives, reduces petroleum use by 70%, only renewable fuel energy source, biodegradablerenewable fuel energy source, biodegradable
Cons: lower temps Cons: lower temps add more gas, still emits add more gas, still emits regulated pollutants, lower mpg, 27% less regulated pollutants, lower mpg, 27% less energy/gallon, E-85 stations not widespread, “a energy/gallon, E-85 stations not widespread, “a leap sideways”, emit more greenhouse gasesleap sideways”, emit more greenhouse gases
Challenges in becoming Challenges in becoming MainstreamMainstream
agricultural increasesagricultural increases auto industry must re-auto industry must re-
vamp.vamp. the world population is the world population is
growing, so food growing, so food production would have production would have to increaseto increase Issue of whether biomass Issue of whether biomass
is worth it is worth it (www.wikipedia.org)
Will Biomass become Mainstream?Will Biomass become Mainstream? U.S. is currently one of the U.S. is currently one of the
leading users of biomassleading users of biomass Will not overtake fossil fuels Will not overtake fossil fuels
as our lead energy producer as our lead energy producer anytime soonanytime soon
But as fossil fuels run out, But as fossil fuels run out, biomass power could become biomass power could become a leading producer of a leading producer of electricity in the United Stateselectricity in the United States
Need more advanced Need more advanced technology in order to use the technology in order to use the biomass more efficientlybiomass more efficiently
Specific Infrastructure in Specific Infrastructure in MichiganMichigan
Need more bio-refineries in Need more bio-refineries in order to process enough order to process enough biomass biomass
Already have 5 ethanol Already have 5 ethanol processing plants in processing plants in MichiganMichigan
Electricity from biofuels can Electricity from biofuels can be hooked into already be hooked into already existing electrical systemsexisting electrical systems
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