| Introduction | | | | are defined in the Renewable Obligation as those |
| The name "Biomass" was invented in 1975 to describe | | | | which have been commissioned since 1 January 1990 |
| natural materials used as energy sources, and refers | | | | and are "fuelled wholly by biomass in any month" (dti |
| to organic matter which can be converted to energy. | | | | Carbon Abatement, Technologies Programme 2005). |
| Biomass energy is the oldest source of energy in the | | | | 2. Co-firing of biomass with other fuels. |
| human history, as it can be easily dated back to man's | | | | We know that 40% of the European Union's energy |
| first fire. | | | | supply depends on oil imported from OPEC countries |
| From the present available information and data | | | | Various research and studies predict that in the coming |
| concerning biomass, it's supply, at the present, counts | | | | years that there will be an increased dependence on |
| for 14% of the world energy sources (IENICA, 2007). In | | | | oil and gas imports, this will result in the share of |
| the developing countries 40% of energy is derived | | | | imports in the European Union (EU) up to 70% by 2030 |
| from biomass, while in the USA it count for 4%, | | | | (Ignaciuk A., et al. 2004). |
| Sweden 14% and Austria 10% (Hall et. al. 1992). | | | | Plants "Energy Crops" Examples |
| The Process | | | | Generally speaking, any type of energy crops can be |
| In biomass, a process called photosynthesis enables | | | | used as a biomass materials for the purpose of |
| plants to capture sunlight and transform it into chemical | | | | generating energy, however, considering that the aim |
| energy, as shown in this equation: | | | | of various biomass projects in general and this project |
| CO2 + 2H2 Heat Light([CH2O] + H2O) + O2 | | | | in particular is to generate energy economically viable |
| The organic resources that are used to produce | | | | on commercial scale, then the selection process in |
| energy using these processes are collectively called | | | | choosing the most suitable biomass materials would |
| "biomass". | | | | have to undergo strict testing from scientific and |
| The Elements | | | | technical factors to the market, business and |
| The main chemical elements in biomass are carbon | | | | regulations factors. Having said that, presently there |
| and hydrogen, with others in addition, such as Oxygen, | | | | are a number of popular examples presently being |
| Nitrogen and sulfur. The last element, however, exists | | | | researched and/or used as an example of the types |
| only in very small quantities. | | | | biomass materials with possible future commercial use. |
| The Energy | | | | One of these examples is "Short Rotation Coppice" |
| Biomass energy can be obtained by reversing the | | | | (Defra. Department of Environment, Food and Rural |
| photosynthesis process. The stored energy is released | | | | Affairs 2002). The following are few popular |
| when the chemical compounds within the biomass | | | | examples: |
| materials are broken down. | | | | 1. Alfalfa (fixes nitrogen in the soil). |
| Biomass is a good source of renewable energy but, | | | | 2. Willow. |
| generally speaking, it is not a good fuel, as it typically | | | | 3. Switch grass (protects the soil and the water in |
| contains more than 70% air and void space. | | | | watershed). |
| Consequently, this low volumetric energy density | | | | 4. There are a wide range of crops that can be used |
| makes it difficult to collect, ship, store and use. | | | | for biodiesel production,such as Canola (Rapeseed), |
| Types of Biomass | | | | Palm oil, Sunflower oil, Soya Bean oil, animalfat (Tallow) |
| Biomass includes forest and mill residues, agricultural | | | | as well as recycled oil (e.g. frying oil). |
| crops & wastes, wood & wood wastes, | | | | 5. Common crop residues (waste matter). |
| animal wastes, livestock operation residues, aquatic | | | | 6. Sorghum. |
| plants, fast-growing trees and plants, and municipal | | | | 7. Forestry Crops - Fast growing trees, which should |
| & industrial wastes. | | | | be suitable for coppicing. Coppicing involves harvesting |
| Therefore, various types of organic materials can be | | | | the tree after a few years and then allowing the tree |
| burned to produce energy or converted into a gas | | | | to sprout again from the stump, followed by |
| which can be used as fuel. | | | | subsequent harvesting (usually between 2 - 5 year |
| Research in this area has shown that the net energy | | | | periods). |
| available in the biomass materials when they are | | | | 8. Forestry Residues - Generated by operations e.g. |
| combusted ranges from about 8MJ/kg for green | | | | thinning of plantations, natural attrition, extracting |
| wood, to 20MJ/kg for oven dried plant matter, to 55MJ | | | | stemwood for pulp and clearing for logging roads. |
| kg for methane; compared with about 23 - 30MJ/kg | | | | Various types of work on wood can also generate |
| for coal (Fletcher S., et al., 2005). | | | | large volumes of residue, such as sawdust, bark and |
| Types of Biomass Energy | | | | woodchip rejects and off-cuts. There are plenty of |
| Biomass energy can be divided into two categories: | | | | these types of by-product materials around but they |
| modern biomass and traditional biomass. In most cases | | | | are usually not being utilised. |
| the modern biomass involves large-scale uses as it | | | | Conclusion |
| tries to replace the conventional fossil fuel energy | | | | Biomass in general, among other renewable sources |
| sources still being used in various parts of the world. | | | | of energy, is the science and technology for a new |
| These large scale uses may include forest wood and | | | | type of energy many predict would be the challenge |
| agricultural residues, urban wastes, biogas and energy | | | | during the 21ast Century. The research and |
| crops. Most traditional biomass is generally found in | | | | investigations of various biomass materials, for long |
| developing countries. Biomass materials in this case | | | | term commercial global fuel use, is the challenge of |
| may include various types of wood, charcoal, rice | | | | today and the investment for the near future. These |
| husks, animal dung and other plant residues (Fletcher S., | | | | investigations are expected to produce the required |
| et al. 2005). | | | | materials and technologies to replace the fossil fuel, in |
| There are two main available options for utilising | | | | particular crude oil, which will be exhausted sooner or |
| biomass: | | | | later. |
| 1. Construction stand alone (or dedicated biomass) - | | | | |