ALEX AND EMILY H.

Biomass Energy

History

Was used ever since humans discovered fireWas used as primary source for heat and

cooking until the industrial revolution, 1860’s

Primary Source

Crop residuesEnergy plantationsAnimal and industrial waste Needed fields of plants and trees to maintain

enough fuel to keep the plant running

Pro

Converts waste produced naturallyIn theory, fuel source can never run out Available all over the world and forms from

anythingCan be converted into liquid gases

Cons

Uses large areas of landLand use limits areaOveruse can cause deforestation Expensive to turn in to alcohols to make the

electricity Creates as much carbon dioxide as burning

fossils fuels

Environmental Effects

If not burned properly, then big contributor to global warming and greenhouse gases

Produces air pollution, and more environmental issues then any other form of producing electricity other then hydropower

Pollutants

Carbon dioxide Carbon monoxideHydrocarbonsOxygenated organicsFree radicals and chlorinated organics

Geographic Distribution

Anywhere there is plant life of animals areOne third of the worlds population burns

wood and other organic material.

Cost to Maintain

Maryland based 60 megawatt power plant cost approximately $250,000,000 to build

Annual biomass cost: $1,303,200

How It works

Needs the biomass form to workMany different types of ways to convert to

powerMost common is similar to a coal-burning

power plant First, gets turned into gases and it sent through filter Second, burned in boilers to create heat Next, heat turns water into steam Then, steam turns turbine connected to generator Finally, generator produces electricity and then is sent

to homes and businesses

Cycle

How much is there?

Enough to replace all power created from nuclear energy, or replace half of nations gasoline use

We only use 7% each year to generate electricity

Resource Question #1

What are the different ways to convert to electricity? Thermal conversion Chemical conversion Biochemical conversion

Resource Question #2

How much profit do biomass plants earn each year? $5,000,000-$15,000,000 per year

Work cited

http://www.zilkha.com/wp3/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Combined.jpg http://www.solar-power-made-affordable.com/biomass-energy-facts.html http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/biomass/advant.html http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/environ

mental-impacts-of.html http://cr.middlebury.edu/es/altenergylife/sbiomass.htm http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/

energy_technologies/how-biomass-energy-works.html http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biomass.html http://tdn.com/news/local/article_6bf94516-5b35-11df-b4f3-

001cc4c002e0.html http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk/portal/page?

_pageid=75,15179&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/people/IMAGES/energy_biomassmap.gif The book p. 259