Biomass EnergyBy

Jonathan Sharer, Brandon Deere,Eric Carpenter

Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms. In the context of biomass for energy this is often used to mean plant based material, but biomass can equally apply to both animal and vegetable derived material.

What is Biomass

How does Biomass work?Biomass is a renewable energy source not only because the energy it comes from the sun, but also because biomass can re-grow over a relatively short period of time. Through the process of photosynthesis, chlorophyll in plants captures the sun's energy by converting carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground into carbohydrates—complex compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slQRWbRE8VI

Production ● collect fuel from farms, human waste, and

many other sources examples:wood, wheat, sugar cane● Take those fuels and either refine them down

to a liquid form (ethanol) or burn them to create electricity

What is the current NY/US investment in biomass power?

Currently the United states has spent $9 million dollars federally to expand the wood product and wood energy markets plus another $31 million dollars are to be spent from 23 states

How many biomass plants are in the USA?

1.7% of the electricity produced is created by biomass

http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=427&t=3

● Energy intensive to produce. In some cases, with little or no net gain.

● Land utilization can be considerable. Can lead to deforestation.

● Requires water to grow● Not totally clean when burned (NOx, soot, ash, CO,

CO2)● May compete directly with food production (e.g. corn,

soy)● Some fuels are seasonal● Heavy feedstocks require energy to transport.● Overall process can be expensive● Some methane and CO2 are emitted during

production● Not easily scalable

● Truly a renewable fuel● Widely available and naturally distributed● Generally low cost inputs● Abundant supply● Can be domestically produced for energy

independence● Low carbon, cleaner than fossil fuels● Can convert waste into energy, helping to deal with

waste

Latest scientific advancement Scientists have been researching these past

couple years to see if algae based biofuels can be viable on a economic level

Biomass Energy Algae ● Algae are emerging to be one of the most promising long-term, sustainable sources of biomass and oils

for fuel, food, feed, and other co-products. Here are 10 reasons why algae are a promising new source of fuel and other products:

1. Algae Grow Fast2. Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields3. Algae Consume CO24. Algae Do Not Compete With Agriculture5. Microalgal Biomass Can Be Used for Fuel, Feed and Food6. Macroalgae Can Be Grown in the Sea7. Algae Can Purify Wastewaters8. Algal Biomass Can Be Used as an Energy Source9. Algae Can Be Used to Produce Many Useful Products10. The Algae Industry is a Job Creation Engine

Work citedhttp://www.triplepundit.com/special/biomass-energy-pros-cons/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slQRWbRE8VI