Renewable Energy Biomass Paul and Chetta Biomass The

Renewable Energy. Biomass Paul and Chetta

Biomass The term “biomass” refers to any form of plant or animal tissue. In the energy industry, biomass refers to wood, straw, biological waste, such as manure, and any other nature materials that contain stored energy (www. re-energy. ca)

Biomass-Energy The energy stored in biomass can be released by burning the material directly, or by feeding it to microorganisms that use it to make biogas, a form of natural gas. (www. re-energy. ca)

Biomass-USA

Biomass-Govt Any solid non-hazardous cellulosic waste material which is segregated from other waste materials and which is delivered from (A) forestrelated resources, (B) solid waste materials, and (C) agricultural sources.

Energy Policy Federal Govt. projections of renewable: 2005 -07: Not less than 3% 2008 -10: Not less than 5% 2011 - : Not less than 7. 5% Grants Program: Payment will not exceed 20 per ton $75 M annually for spending on Biomass/Biofuels Projects: U. of TN- Switch grass ($1 M) IO State clean energy gasification from switch grass ($250 K) MI soybean biodiesel ($300 K) NE soybean oil for biodiesel ($500 K)

Biomass-Biofuels Converting biomass into liquid fuels for transportation

Biomass-Biopower Burning biomass directly, or converting it into fuel or, to generate electricity

Biomass-Bioproducts Converting biomass into chemicals for making products that are made from petroleum

Agricultural Crops Cane, corn, wheat, sorghum and vegetable oil-bearing crops Liquid fuel sources either as ethanol or biodiesel Residues- rice husk, sugar cane fiber, coconut husks, groundnut shells, straw

Ethanol Used to produce Gasohol Made from Corn or Sugar cane Currently used widely in the Midwest and South 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline New technologies are using switch grass and willow, more efficient

Animal Waste Most common are manure’s from pigs, chickens and cattle (feed lots) Convert waste via anaerobic digestion into biogas

Forestry crops Fast-growing and coppicing Residues are generated by thinning , clearing for roads, extracting stem wood for pulp and timber, sawdust, off-cuts, bark and woodchip

Industrial waste Solid waste-peelings from fruits and veggies, substandard food, filter sludge's and coffee grounds Liquid waste-washing meats, fruits and veggies pre-cooking, wine making

Municipal waste Millions of ton(s) into landfills Converted into energy by direct combustion or anaerobic digestion, with gas collected from the stored material Sewage-Biogas production

Anaerobic Digestion Decomposition of wet and green biomass thru bacterial action w/o oxygen Mixed gas output of methane and carbon dioxide Pipeline distribution Biogas is produced using animal manure Can be burnt directly for cooking or heating or used as fuel in combustion engines

Methane

Benefits Renewable that does not contribute to global warming-recycled in next generation of trees Negligible sulphur content Conversion of agricultural, forestry, municipal waste reduced landfill The growing of trees and plants remove carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and store carbon Fast growing trees recycle carbon rapidly Energy crops provide dual purpose of soil protection, drought and habitat

Benefits-Economically New technologies to create ethanol from switch grass and willow trees Farmers profit Marginal lands can be used Domestic resource Job increase Byproducts can be used as animal feeds, fertilizer and soil amendments Local energy for communities Biogas from landfills

Problems Biomass has low energy density-transportation Incomplete combustionlocalized air pollution Biomass-combustionpollution Deforestation Conflict of land use for other uses, -farming Not fully competitive Takes energy to make energy Exotics Increased need for pesticides and fertilizers While landfill space is saved, may destroy resources that could be recycled or reused Waste products, wood, tires, sewage can contain contaminants

Problems-Economically Ethanol production is viable with federal tax subsidies Growing corn for ethanol has high production costs and impacts from fertilizers, pesticides and fuels Conversion efficiency low Short term production cost high, cheaper in the longterm Biomass is not free-labor, equipment, fuel costs Landfill methane technologies are perceived to have “high risk” (DOE)

Biomass Use 3% of primary energy in industrialized countries Developing countries, especially rural areas use 50% of traditional biomass (wood)

Future within Biomass Strategies must be different in different geographical areas; determined by land quality, land uses, competing uses and the areas demands for energy.

Future Several Indian tribes, BLM and Forest Service are developing small biomass energy systems as healthy forest initiative Biodiesel is cleaner alternative DOE sponsoring efforts to increase conversion efficiencies Gasifier technology being used in HI to produce hydrogen from biomass (Bagasse, nutshells, sugar cane, switch grass) Direct combustion within boilers to produce energy 40 million vehicles run on alcohol in Brazil Monsanto and Shell have teamed to produce genetically modified, rapid growing trees Biomass accounts for 1. 6% of total US electricity

Should anything that creates pollution in order to create energy be considered green, clean or renewable?