This document discusses biomass as a renewable energy source. It defines biomass as non-fossil organic resources from which energy can be produced, including vegetation, organic wastes, and photosynthetic organisms. Biomass can be burned directly for heat or used to create steam for electricity generation. It also describes various biomass feedstocks like energy crops, agricultural residues, and municipal solid waste. The document outlines the benefits of biomass but also notes barriers to its increased use like lack of experience with the technologies and high initial capital costs.

1. ENGINEERING SCIENCE &
ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY
Lecture 4 - BioMass
Keith Vaugh BEng (AERO) MEng

3. BioMass

4. The oldest fuel used
by mankind

6. Definition of BioMass
• Encompasses a variety of fuels and technologies used to
produce renewable energy
• Refers to:
• land and water-based vegetation
• organic wastes
• photosynthetic organisms
• These are non-fossil, renewable carbon resources from
which energy can be produced and used as fossil fuel
substitutes

8. Examples and uses
• Wood, grasses, crops, agricultural and municipal
wastes
• Can be burned to produce heat
• Used to create steam to turn turbines -
electricity generation
• Liquid biofuels can also be derived from biomass
crops

10. Energy from biomass and waste is often
referred to as bioenergy. When plant
material is burned for energy purposes
carbon dioxide is released. However,
because plants absorb carbon dioxide
during their life cycle, the net emissions of
carbon dioxide are zero. In this way, wood
is said to be carbon neutral.

12. PHOTOSYNTHESIS

18. Benefits of BioMass
• Net reduction in CO2 emissions.
• Indigenous resource - can reduce dependence on fuel
imports
• Secure energy supply
• Employment - Fuel cultivation, Engineering consultants,
environmental services, construction, legal/financing,
manufacturing, maintenance etc...

20. - Manufacturing - while there are some manufacturing companies in Ireland e.g. pellet equipmen
there is significant potential for establishment of manufacturers of the various components of
biofuel systems.
- Maintenance, servicing and administration
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Projected employment in the EU for biomass technologies. Wind is included for comparison.
Source: EU Altener Report: Impact of RES on Employment, 2000.
ironmental gains
- biomass is sustainable and does not deplete future resources.
- energy forestry crops have a much greater diversity of wildlife

22. BioMass feed stocks

23. •Energy Crops
•Organic residues

25. Energy Crops
• Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) - Production of wood fuel
through the cultivation of high-yielding trees at close spacing
on short time rotations
• Willow
• Poplar
• Hemp
• Miscanthus

27. Energy Crops
• Liquid BioFuels - grown for production of liquid transport
fuels.
• Different production techniques
• Biodiesel - derived from oil crops i.e. oilseed & camelina
• Bioethanol - wheat, sugarbeet, sweet sorghum and woody
crops
• Biomethanol - Biomasses sources i.e. grasses, SRF, crop
residues, municipal solid waste
• Liquid BioFuels can be incorporated as blends with petrol/
diesel fuels or as a replacement for same

29. Organic Residues
• Forest residues - tree tops, branches etc...
• Wood wastes or by-products from wood processing
• Agricultural residues - animal slurry and manure, chicken
litter, spent mushroom compost and straw (disposal of these
pose environmental problems)
• Municipal solid waste - food processing waste, sewage sludge
• Waste vegetable oil - catering industry
• Tallow - animal fat of variable quality

31. Conversion of BioMass to energy
• Direct combustion - some processing of biomass may be
carried out prior to combustion e.g. sorting, chipping,
pelleting or drying
• Thermochemical processes - BioMass is upgraded to a liquid
or gas by pyrolysis and gasification
• Decomposition of solid bioMass to liquid or gaseous fuels by
process such as anaerobic digestion and fermentation

33. UK
Sweden
Spain
Portugal
Netherlands
Italy
Ireland
Germany
France
Finland
Denmark
Belgium
Austria
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
PJ/a
Use of Biomass in European Countries. Source: AFB-net Report, 2001
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY IRELAND
RENEWABLE ENERGY INFORMATION OFFICE

35. climate in Europe. Our potential annual yield of wood is almost three times that of Finland, where the energy
use from biomass is 18%! We need to realise this potential and develop our natural biomass resources.
5.3 3.8
4.3
10.0 6.2
8.7 6.2
6.1 5.8
7.2
6.1
6.8 6.2
7.1 4.8
3.9 5.2
5.3 6.4
Ireland has the highest potential annual yield of wood in Europe (figures are based on
Paterson’s Climatic Index m3/ha). Source: Forest Resources in Europe 1950-1990, 1994.
Forestry in Ireland

37. The potential to develop our use of biomass
for energy cannot go unrecognized. Ireland
has the best growth climate in Europe. Our
potential annual yield of wood is almost
three times that of Finland, where the energy
use from biomass is 18%!!!!!!

39. Barriers to BioMass
• Lack of experience and familiarity with BioMass technologies
• Attitude of the electricity, heat and fuel supply industries -
changing
• Initial capital costs - taxes on renewable energy systems
(however greener homes grants now available), lack of grants
(changing)
• Uncertainty as to the availability of BioMass resources -
Framing
• Need for an integrated BioMass policy
• Lack of information, education and training

43. What is Biomass?
Biomass is the oldest fuel used by mankind. Wood has been used as a
fuel for cooking and heating for over 500,000 years, but has suffered a
decline in the last century as the use of fossil fuels increased. However,
the environmentally harmful effects of burning fossil fuels coupled with
the need to secure indigenous renewable sources of energy has resulted
in a return to using natural and clean sources of energy such as
biomass.
Definition of Biomass
The term biomass encompasses a variety of fuels and technologies used
to produce renewable energy. Biomass refers to land and water-based
vegetation, organic wastes and photosynthetic organisms. These are
non-fossil, renewable carbon resources from which energy can be
produced and used as fossil fuel substitutes. Examples of biomass
include: wood, grasses, crops, agricultural and municipal wastes.
Biomass can be burned to produce heat that is used to create steam to
turn turbines to produce electricity. Therefore, energy from biomass can
produce electricity and/or heat. Liquid biofuels can also be derived from
The majority of todays lecture has been biomass crops such as oilseed rape.
Energy from biomass and waste is often referred to as bioenergy. When
sourced from Sustainable Energy plant material is burned for energy purposes carbon dioxide is released.
However, because plants absorb carbon dioxide during their life cycle,
the net emissions of carbon dioxide are zero. In this way, wood is said
Ireland’s BioMass fact sheet available to be carbon neutral.
from:
Sustainable Energy Ireland
Atmospheric CO2, water
and sunlight
Shinagh House Carbon released back
into the atmosphere
Converted into new plant material
through photosynthesis
Bandon, Co. Cork,
and available to download at:
Which is harvested and burnt
or downloadable from:
Source: British BioGen, the UK Trade Association for Bioenergy.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY IRELAND
http://www.sei.ie/Renewables/Bioenergy/ RENEWABLE ENERGY INFORMATION OFFICE
Hotline: 023 42193 Website: http://www.sei.ie/reio.htm 1