by Eric Scott

Created on: May 16, 2007   Last Updated: May 21, 2007

Biomass energy, also called bioenergy, is energy that is produced from plants and plant derived materials. Wood, in many different forms, is the largest biomass material used, but other sources used are food crops, livestock manure and even gas from landfills.

Biomass energy is better for the environment and helps reduce effects of global warming. The plants used for biomass energy use and store carbon dioxide (CO2) while they are alive, but give it off when the die or are burned. The new crops then reabsorb the carbon dioxide when they are grown to take the place of the old. This is unlike when coal is burned and the carbon dioxide is released with nothing taking its place to reabsorb the carbon dioxide, therefore adding to the global warming crisis.

How energy is produced from each of these products is different and interesting. The following are the ways that the products are converted to energy:

Wood products Basically, wood products are burned to produce heat. This heat is used to turn water into steam in a boiler. This steam is then used to turn a turbine that is connected to an electrical generator and produces power that we use in our homes and businesses.

Livestock manure Livestock, particularly cattle, generate tons of manure while they make milk and meat for us to consume. This manure is collected and put into a large tank and heated to expedite the decaying process. During the decaying process, methane gas (a greenhouse gas) is produced and is collected. This gas is then burned to produce heat and electricity for the farm. If there is excess electricity it is then put out onto the grid and sold to the local energy companies.

Landfills Biomass from landfills is similar to the livestock process but takes longer. As the garbage is put into landfills it also starts to decay. After a few years enough decay takes place where measurable amounts of methane can be collected instead of being released into the atmosphere. The methane is then burned to make electricity. An average sized landfill can provide enough power to a few hundred or more homes.

While biomass energy is not a major source of our total energy, it is growing in popularity for the benefits it provides and new forms of biomass are being discovered all the time.

So the next time you go by your local farm, just remember that is the smell of renewable energy!

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