An Overview of Biomass Energy

Energy can be generated in a range of ways. We can burn fossil fuels, use the sun's light for solar power, use water to hydroelectric generators as well as the warmth of the Earth's core in geothermal energy. One frequently overlooked source of energy which belongs among these others is biomass energy.

Biomass is biological (natural) substance that was once living, or still is living, which could be used to make energy. By way of instance, lawn clippings, dead trees, unused crops, wood chips and other wood byproducts are biomass. Even household garbage can be considered biomass, as can"landfill gas", produced when garbage decomposes in landfills.

Biomass energy is generated when these substances are burned as fuel to generate energy. Some biomass materials are burned to make steam, which is later used with generators to produce power and heat. Additional biomass materials, such as landfill gas, ethanol (produced from corn and other leftover plants ) and biodiesel (this gas consists of leftover animal fats and vegetable oils) may be used to make biomass energy that could even electricity transportation vehicles.

While biomass energy ought to be utilised as often as possible, since the biomass fuels are readily available, this sort of energy can be overlooked. Biomass energy only accounts for approximately three percent of the energy used yearly in america. Some folks feel that using biomass for energy isn't safe for the environment, or they don't need a"garbage" burning power plant in their region. In actuality, biomass energy is truly quite safe for the environment - the only byproduct is carbon dioxide, which comes from the burning of any fuel. This greenhouse gas does have any dangerous properties, but not near as numerous as the pollutants which are discharged with the burning of fossil fuels.

So as to see precisely what biomass energy can do for our planet, society should become more receptive to using biomass as an energy resource. Using discarded and waste products can help reduce the quantity of trash going into our landfills, in addition to cut down on our need to use fossil fuels. This, then, will not just help the environment but also the world's market. Biomass energy is an under-utilized energy supply that has to be fully researched and utilized in the years to come.