Benefits of Using Biomass

Biomass can be used for fuels, power production, and products that would otherwise be made from fossil fuels. In such scenarios, biomass can provide an array of benefits. For example:

  • Renewable. Biomass is available in large quantities all over the world. Large pipelines across country borders and oceans are therefore most likely not necessary.
  • Carbon Neutral. The use of biomass energy has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Burning biomass releases about the same amount of carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide captured by photosynthesis millions of years ago—an essentially "new" greenhouse gas. Biomass, on the other hand, releases carbon dioxide that is largely balanced by the carbon dioxide captured in its own growth (depending how much energy was used to grow, harvest, and process the fuel).
  • Cost- Effective. The use of biomass can reduce dependence on foreign oil because biofuels are the only renewable liquid transportation fuels available. Energy harnessed from biomass is inexpensive compared to coal and oil. Typically they cost about 1/3 less than fossil fuels doing the same job. This means you can spend 1/3 less every year on heating your home and after 10 or 15 years that adds up to a considerable saving
  • Abundant. Biomass energy supports agricultural and forest-product industries. Biomass is available in large quantities all over the world. Large pipelines across country borders and oceans are therefore most likely not necessary. The main biomass feedstocks for power are paper mill residue, lumber mill scrap, and municipal waste. For biomass fuels, the most common feedstocks used today are wood chips or pellets, agricultural waste, and paper/cardboard municipal waste.
  • Sustainable. Creates regional employment and development in rural areas, materials from other activities are reused which results in recycling and waste elimination, decreases external dependency on the supply of fuel and currently, we can say that there is reliable technology at competitive costs.




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