Biomass Energy

Biomass Energy-Organic material that can be used as an energy source

-Examples: wood, crops, seaweed, manure

-Renewable Energy Source-Example: replant crops/forests

-Used around the world, especially in rural & developing nations

Wood is used for heating and cooking purposes.

Pellets made from corn stalks can be used in

pellet stoves. People use these to heat their homes.

Methane gas is collected off of decaying seaweed and used in gas engines.

Some Types of Biomass Energy

-Wood and Agricultural Products - “Home Grown” Energy

-Landfill Gas-Methane gas is collected, purifies, and used as an

energy source

-Anaerobic Digesters -Animal waste is chemically broken down which

produces methane gas

Biomass Energy

For Example:

The Tokyo Gas Co. is converting seaweed into biomass energy by allowing micro-organisms to break down the seaweed. Methane gas is collected during this process and then mixed with natural gas. The gas company uses this energy to power their office.

-Industry is the biggest consumer of biomass energy

Biomass Energy-Until the mid-1800’s, wood provided about 90% of the United States’ energy

-Today, biomass (all-not just wood) provides about 3% of the United States’ energy

-What came about in the mid-1800’s that caused this change in energy use?

Biomass Energy

Gaggle Tube: Energy 101-Biofuels (2:56)

Advantages (Pros)-Biomass energy is gathered from natural products

-Planting (and replanting) trees and crops will help keep the earth’s carbon dioxide levels balanced

-Relatively inexpensive compared to other energy sources

-Biomass energy contains little sulfur and nitrogen-does not contribute the pollutants that cause

acid rain

Disadvantages (Cons)-Can easily lead to the depletion of natural resources

-Examples: logging forests, over harvesting of crops

-Biomass produces greenhouse emissions (carbon dioxide)

-It takes more energy to produce compared to the energy you get out

-Biomass crops are not available all year

There was a man who, in 1979, traveled from

Jacksonville, Fl to Los Angeles, Ca on wood he was using in his biomass gasifier attached to a Chevy Malibu. He would travel 1 mile for

every pound of wood. Not the most efficient use of fuel.

http://www.alternative-energy-resources.net/biomass-energy-disadvantages.html

Sources:http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1112876 http://www.comforthomeandhearth.com/pelletstoves http://planetfriendlysolutions.blogspot.com/2012_10_01_archive.htmlhttp://www.energydigital.com/green_technology/algae-biomass-increased-by-more-than-50-percent http://movies-theodorecalebkenneth.blogspot.com/2011/03/seaweed-salad-calories.htmlhttp://www.amrenewables.com/biomass-energy/biomass-energy-benefits.php

Use your Energy Book to answer the following questions:

1. Which types of energy are nonrenewable? Why?

2. Which types of energy are renewable? Why?

3. How does solar energy work?4. Why are fossil fuels harmful to the

environment?5. What are some disadvantages to wind

and geothermal power?6. Which type of energy do you think is the

best to use and why?7. Which type of energy do you think is the

worst to use and why?