Renewing takes just as long time as it takes to grow or gather, and that can be as little as months in some cases. Biomass energy production is expensive – because of transportation costs, fuel costs and because the sources need to go through a number of different processes to be converted. Biomass energy production releases pollutants into the atmosphere, and although the CO2 is offset to a certain extent, there are still many other impurities released which lead to air pollution. In comparison, while the availability of some biomass resources may be susceptible to seasonality, biomass energy plants can always turn on to provide power, regardless of the weather outside. Deaf, hearing or speech impaired?

Biomass energy is often considered to be a ‘green’ energy source because it is renewable.

Unlike most other renewable energy sources, biomass can generate both heat and electricity in a combined heat power (CHP) plant. Costs can vary widely from biomass energy plant to biomass energy plant, and in some cases, bioenergy has the potential to be cost-competitive with solar and wind. used cooking oil) is efficient and environmentally positive.

This form of energy has been used by humans for thousands of … Advantages of Biomass Energy 1. This means that nations can become more fuel self-sufficient. This is an interesting debate and one which is likely to develop as more research is done.

Methane causes even more greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide, so its release into the atmosphere is cause for concern. The extent of GHG emissions reduction varies widely and depends on many factors including the biomass (feedstocks) used, how they are produced and procured and the type and efficiency of the technology used to produce bioenergy. In many instances, biomass energy plants are dispatchable, meaning they can easily be turned on or off.

Fossil fuels are a finite resource, developed through geological processes over millions of years and their use represents a one-way flow of GHGs from beneath the earth's surface to the atmosphere.

or Find further information about our office locations. Therefore, production of bioenergy does not contribute extra CO2 to the atmosphere like fossil fuels. In particular, the use of waste products (e.g. Using waste streams to generate bioenergy saves the environmental and economic costs of disposal in landfills and reduces contamination risks. But, the same power station has since invested significant sums into researching. As such, we won’t run out of biomass to use for energy production.

For example, through the IEA Bioenergy Task 38 project 'Greenhouse Gas Balances of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems'. This allows electricity grid operators to use electricity from these plants during times of peak demand. That said, even though biomass is often more expensive than alternative renewable energy options, the most expensive types of bioenergy are still on-par with or cheaper than fossil fuels: bioenergy does not require drilling into the earth, which carries a high capital (and environmental) cost. Production of biochar through pyrolysis also yields bioenergy in the form of heat and bio-oil in varying amounts depending on the temperature and pyrolysis process used. Even dung can be used as a fuel for biomass energy!

But, the same power station has since invested significant sums into researching carbon capture and storage within their biomass energy production scheme.

Most biomass energy is sourced from plants which have gathered energy from the Sun through the process of photosynthesis.

Phone: 03 5172 2111 This means that the CO2 released during the combustion process is offset by the CO2 absorbed by the plants when they are growing. Bioenergy production can provide an alternative to prescribed burning of forests. Decomposition of organic matter releases methane. 133 677

natural organic matter that can be burned directly or converted to other forms of fuel and is used often for lighting For example, stubble that is destined to be burnt in the field, can be harvested and combusted in an emissions controlled bioenergy plant. .

Some types of biomass sources (such as wood, corn, dung) can be used to produce electricity through combustion (burning). Biomass, therefore, …