Biomass Energy

Energy – It’s Everywhere!

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Biomass to Energy

The Sun is the direct or indirect source of nearly all our energy on earth.

Energy can change from one form to another.

Plants capture solar energy through photosynthesis to make food, a type of chemical energy. Biomass is a name for plant and animal waste used as an energy source or fuel.

Biofuels are liquid and gas fuels used for transportation, heat and electricity.

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Solar Energy to Biomass

Green plants act like small, natural chemical factories.

Plants use water and carbon dioxide as raw materials for making food.

A green plant uses the Sun’s energy to make food and release oxygen.

Biomass to Heat Energy

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When we put firewood in a fireplace we are using biomass to produce heat energy

Many woody plant parts and forest products can be used.

Plants are renewable, unlike oil, coal and gasoline.

Biomass to Ethanol

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Plant sugar, starch and cellulose can be turned into ethyl alcohol (ethanol).

Microorganisms eat the sugars and starch to produce alcohol.

Alcohol can be used like gasoline.

Biomass to Methane

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Plants decay naturally through a chemical change called digestion.

If oxygen is not present the main products are carbon dioxide and methane.

The methane collected is called natural gas.Natural gas is one of the cleanest burning fuels to use.

Biomass to Biodiesel

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Vegetable oil and animal fat can be used to make biodiesel (diesel from plants).

Biodiesel is made through a chemical change, reacting oil or fat with alcohol.