![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Biomass Energy
Biomass derived from organic materials, including wood and crops, as well wastes from consumer, municipal and agricultural processes, can be used to generate heat and electricity. Biomass fuels encompass a broad range of solids, gases, and liquids that result from living organisms or from the wastes and by-products of human activities.
Biomass energy is considered environmentally friendly because it comes from renewable resources such as plants that often produce heat or electricity with less harmful environmental impacts than traditional fossil fuels such as coal.
Biomass energy is commonly used in the following applications:
- Electricity production
- Heat generation
- Transportation fuel
Fuels and Applications
Cofiring: Cofiring is the mixture of biomass fuel with fossil fuels. This reduces reliance on fossil fuel and helps reduce emissions.
Landfill and Digester Gas: The decomposition of organic matter in landfills and wastewater treatment plants produces significant amounts of methane as a byproduct. Methane is also the main component of natural gas, which is a primary fuel for electricity generation in New England. Though the gas needs to be collected and its impurities removed, it is still a cost effective means of generating power or heat by using what would otherwise just be vented to the atmosphere.
Biomass Gasification: Gasification of biomass is a newer technology
that is gaining traction as a means to produce energy from biofuels.
In a gasification system, biomass (wood or other solid plant matter)
is heated to high temperatures (600-800 °C) in a gasifier. The
fuel is converted to a gas that is then used to generate heat and
power. The biomass produces a gas made up of hydrogen, carbon monoxide,
carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane. Gasifiers are a much
cleaner technology that traditional biomass combustion systems.
In addition, they are more efficient, resulting in more power generated
for each ton of biomass consumed.
Finally, while biomass and biogas are renewable fuels, unlike wind or solar, it can be dispatched like any other conventional power plant fueled by natural gas or coal.
Additional Resources
