Biomass energy: advantages and disadvantages

What is the biomass and energy obtained from it? The biomass energy is a type of renewable energy using as a source of energy the Organic matter animal or vegetable, being a natural or industrial process being formed in controlled biological or mechanical processes. Within the Biomass energy types We can find three:

• Natural biomass: It is one that occurs in natural ecosystems without the intervention of the human being.
• Residual biomass: It refers to organic waste generated by the activities carried out by people, such as urban solid waste, forest, woody and herbaceous agricultural waste or industrial and agricultural waste.
• Biomass produced: Crop fields are allocated where specific species are planted with the sole purpose of being used to generate energy.

Know more about this type of renewable energy in this other article about what biomass energy is and what it is for.

There are many biomass applications, since it is used for thermal, electrical production, for transport, among other activities. But did you know,What are the advantages of biomass energy?

• It is a source of renewable energy, since the energy with which it comes from the sun and the life cycle, so it is practically inexhaustible because biomass is constantly produced as a consequence of plant and animal activities.
• Its contamination compared to the burning of fossil fuels is lower, so its use decreases CO2 emissions having less impact on the ozone layer.
• Biomass is present to any part of the planet and is cheaper.
• It offers a new opportunity to the agricultural sector, since energy crops replace those crops that have been abandoned or that can no longer be used for their initial activity, thus avoiding erosion and soil degradation.
• There is a wide variety of biomass types.
• It does not generate solid particle emissions, non -pollutants such as nitrogen or sulfur.
• It contributes an economic increase in rural areas, as well as the generation of new jobs.
• It is true that to take advantage of this type of renewable energy of biomass that comes from energy crops, combustion must be performed, with the consequence of CO2 emissions towards the atmosphere and this could be seen as a disadvantage. However, in energy crops during the growth of the plants found in them, they capture CO2, thus compensating the emissions derived from combustion.
• The use of waste from other activities, which is what we call residual biomass, are contributing to the recycling and reduction of waste. In the end, both organic and inorganic waste is being eliminated, taking advantage of it with another utility.
• The use of this energy decreases fossil fuel dependence.

Once we have seen what are the environmental and socioeconomic advantages of biomass, the most relevant, in this section they will show What are the disadvantages of biomass energyas well as the environmental impact that some of them have:

• Sometimes, biomass has moisture content, its drying being necessary to burn it. This in the end is an increase in energy expenditure by having to add one more process.
• More biofuel is needed compared to fossil fuel to produce the same amount of energy, which is why broader spaces are needed to store it.
• If biomass is obtained through a bad procedure, that is, abusive and poorly focused, this could cause the destruction of natural habitats and forest deforestation.
• We are facing a resource that has emerged recently and there is no advanced technology for effective use, as it occurs with liquid and solid fuels.
• The costs of the use of biomass increase when they are difficult in transport and storage.
• If biomass burning produces toxic substances, its combustion should be done at a temperature greater than 900 ºC.
• Although biomass can be found throughout the planet, there are no suitable places to take advantage of it since large spaces are needed.

Once the advantages and disadvantages have been known, as well as the environmental impact of biomass, do you think it could be a viable alternative to replace the use of fossil fuels?

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