Biomass is a renewable source of energy derived from organic matter such as waste wood, agricultural crops, and municipal solid waste. It can be burned to produce heat and electricity, with wood being the largest biomass energy source. In California, over 60 million tons of biomass sources like agricultural waste, dead trees, and livestock manure could generate enough electricity for about 2 million homes each year. While biomass power generation reduces landfill waste, it is generally more expensive than other energy sources.

1. By
Meenakshy Minood
Grade 8 Igcse

2. In the developed world biomass is becoming more
important for dual applications such as heat and
power generation.
Biomass is a clean renewable energy resource derived
from the waste of various human and natural
activities.
It excludes organic material which has been transformed
by geological processes into substances such as coal or
petroleum.

3. Wood is the largest energy source of biomass: contributors include the timber
industry, agricultural crops and raw materials from the forest.
Waste energy is the second largest source of biomass energy. The main
contributors are: municipal solid waste and manufacturing waste.
Alcohol fuels is the third largest contributor and is derived mainly from corn.

4. Any source can be used to fuel biomass energy
production. We can use rubbish, animal manure,
woodchips, seaweed, corn stalks and other wastes.
Biomass is matter usually thought of as garbage.
Some of the sources are just lying around: dead trees,
left-over crops, woodchips, sawdust from lumber
mills, even used tires and livestock manure will do.
In California, USA, more than 60 million tons of energy
sources for biomass energy are collected each year. If all these
sources were used to create biomass energy, California could
make up to 2000 megawatts of electricity. That is enough to
make electricity for about 2 million homes.

5. Providing electricity is not the major advantage of waste-to-energy plants
that generate electricity. It actually costs more to generate electricity at a
waste-to-energy plant than it does at a coal, nuclear, or hydropower
plant.
The major advantage of burning waste is that it reduces the amount of
garbage we bury in landfills. Waste-to-energy plants dispose of the waste
of 40 million people.
The average American produces more than 1,600 pounds of waste a year. If
all this waste were land filled, it would take more than two cubic yards of
landfill space. That's the volume of a box 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 6
feet high. If that waste were burned, the ash residue would fit into a box
3 feet long, 3 feet wide, but only 9 inches high.
Solid Waste Incinerators Simply Dispose of Waste
There also are solid waste incinerators that simply burn trash. They don't
use the heat energy to make steam or electricity.
Between waste-to-energy plants and solid waste incinerators, the United
States burns 14% of its solid waste.

6.  The harnessing of energy from biological mass
(biomass) is a simple process. The waste wood and other
sources are gathered in big trucks. The waste is then
transported to a biomass plant. Here, the waste is fed
into furnaces where it is burned. The heat created is used
to boil water and the energy from the steam is used to
rotate turbines and generators.
 The second method, through which energy is created, is
called Landfill Gas. When garbage is burned or is
allowed to decompose it gives off methane gas. Pipelines
are put into the landfills (pits in which garbage is
burned) and the methane gas is collected. It is then used
to make energy in power plants.

8.  The use of biomass can help reduce Global Warming.
Plants use and store carbon dioxide (CO2) when they
grow. When it burns or decomposes, it releases the
CO2. Replanting plants, crops or trees etc. ensures that
the C02 is reused. If the plants are not replanted the
biomass will disrupt the natural carbon equilibrium
and thus continue to contribute towards Global
Warming.

10. In rural India biomass is used for cooking and agricultural
growth. It has been very useful for village households that own
cattle. Through a simple process the cattle dung is used to produce
a gas which is then used as fuel for cooking. The surplus dung is
used as manure.
The use of sugarcane to produce electricity is increasingly being
used in Indian sugar mills. After the juice has been extracted from
the sugarcanes, the leftover pulp - bagasse - is sold to power
plants. Here, the bagasse is burned. The energy produced is then
provided to the sugar mills.
Biomass power plants are becoming very popular. Using resources
that are easily available makes the production of energy
efficient and reliable.

11. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
•Biomass can be used for fuels, power •Collecting sufficient quantities
production and products that would of waste can be difficult.
otherwise be made from fossil fuels. •Burning the fuel creates
•It does not add CO2 to the atmosphere as it greenhouse gases, although only
absorbs the same amount of carbon in growing a very little.
as it releases when consumed with fuel. •Certain materials aren't always
•It can be used to generate electricity with available.
the same equipment or power plants that are
now burning fossil fuels.
•It is sensible to use waste products where we
can.
•Biomass fuel generally tends to be cheap.
•Using biomass sources places less demand
on the Earth's resources.
•The use of biomass energy has the potential to
greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
•The use of biomass can reduce dependence
on foreign oil.