Using Biomass Power for Our Electrical Needs

Biomass: this term is used to describe natural, biological materials that can be used as fuel to produce energy.

Biomass is a broad term. It includes fuels of many different types, such as garbage, landfill gas and ethanol. The electricity biomass produces can be used to power things from industries to homes. Biomass energy can definitely help cut down on the world's use of fossil fuels, and other harmful sources of energy.

The most common types of biomass can be grouped into one of three categories.

1.) Wood (and related) products. These are things like lawn clippings, wood chips, leftover wood scraps from lumber production, and dead trees or leaves.

2.) Garbage products. These are items within garbage that people generate. They can be used to burn as fuel, or landfill gases, which are produced when garbage rots (methane).

3.) Ethanol and biodiesel. These are both fossil fuel replacements. They are made from either corn or other crops (ethanol), vegetable oil, and animal fat (biodiesel). All of these can result in biomass fuel to produce electricity.

The landfill gas, also known as Bio-gas or methane, is often collected by landfill owners or farmers to be used as fuel. The burning of this fuel can either power a generator for electricity or be used to heat property.

The wood related products can be pressed into pellets, and then used as fuel for heat and electricity generation.

Ethanol and biodiesel are of even more interest in the world climate these days, as they are both used to power cars and other vehicles. Ethanol and biodiesel are much cleaner burning than fossil fuels, and less expensive to produce since they come from waste which is easy to find in our modern world. Both types of fuel are also biodegradable, making them safer for the environment. While neither fuel can be used in all types of cars at present, car manufacturers are working to make more vehicles that will run on these alternative fuels.

While the idea of using biomass as a power platform may seem far-fetched to some, but I can assure you it is not. In my own town there is a biomass power plant. Buy burning wood chips they produce heat. Water is heated and produces steam. The steam turns the turbines and produces power. As you can see it is quite simple to produce electricity from biomass fuels.

Biomass Electricity as an energy platform is definitely a alternative worth exploring more.

PLR