Bioenergy is produced from a variety of organic materials, called biomass, such as wood, charcoal, dung and other manures for heat and power production, and agricultural crops for liquid biofuels. Most biomass is used in rural areas for cooking, lighting and space heating, generally by poorer populations in developing countries.
Modern biomass systems include dedicated crops or trees, residues from agriculture and forestry, and various organic waste streams.
Energy created by burning biomass creates greenhouse gas emissions, but at lower levels than burning fossil fuels like coal, oil or gas. However, bioenergy should only be used in limited applications, given potential negative environmental impacts related to large-scale increases in forest and bioenergy plantations, and resulting deforestation and land-use change.
How Biomass Energy Work?
Biomass is the organic byproduct that is left over from plants, animals and waste products from organic sources, such as garbage, wood, crops, landfill gas and alcohol fuels. When burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat, which can be converted into biofuels and/or biogas and finally, into useable energy such as fuels, electricity or heat.
The basic process of biomass energy, or bio energy, has to do with photosynthesis. Plants contain chlorophyll, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the ground. When animals eat the plants, some of that energy is transferred. We call it renewable energy because the carbon dioxide and water is then released back into the atmosphere, and is used to grow more plants and crops to start the cycle again.
Advantage and Disadvantage of using Biomass Energy
Advantages of Biomass Energy
It can create fuel for various uses, not just electricity.
It is
renewable
, as crops and plants will continue to grow (but only if we keep replacing them) and humans and animals will continue to produce waste.
It uses our waste to create energy. This means our waste can be re-used for a positive purpose!
Disadvantages of Biomass Energy
It takes up a lot of land to grow enough trees and crops to generate useful energy. This can reduce space for animal and human habitats.
Habitats like ancient forests are destroyed when trees are cut down and made into biomass for burning.
In some countries, families have lost their homes because their lands have been taken for crop growing.
Burning biofuels is still not good for the environment as it releases carbon dioxide and other harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Burning any form of wood gives off air pollution (smoke and dust) which is bad for human health (especially if you have asthma or heart disease) and animal health.
It can be smelly. That’s a downside, especially if you live near a recycling centre or a sewage treatment plant!
