Biomass energy and biomass power are two important ways to become more environmentally friendly. Using biomass may become necessary or advantageous when you need to comply with government regulations and it will help garner customer support for your efforts at being earth-friendly.
Biomass energy taps into the natural carbohydrates that occur in trees and plants. As most people know, plants and trees go through a process called photosynthesis when they are exposed to sunlight. http://www.biomass-energy.org.uk/ As part of this process, carbon dioxide that the plants obtain from the environment is processed and the carbon dioxide is then converted into sugars, cellulose and starches. These are organic compounds called carbohydrates.The carbohydrates that occur naturally in the plants are actually the biomass used in biomass energy. This energy can be used for fuel (called biofuel), for the production of power (called biopower) and for products (bioproducts).
Biomass power is a form of biomass energy that is generally used in power plant operation. In most cases, a direct-fire system is used to burn bioenergy feedstock. When bioenergy feedstock is burned, steam is produced, which powers a turbine. Typically the turbine then causes a generator to turn, which in turn converts the biomass power that was produced into electricity.
While biomass power used in a new facility is generally one of the simplest and easiest means to take advantage of the benefits of biomass, you can also use biomass power to operate existing power plants. http://www.biomass-energy.org.uk/renewable-energy/heating For instance, if you run a coal-fired plant, something called a "co-firing" system can be used to allow you to use your existing material and equipment but to power it with biomass fuels instead of only with coal. Co-firing means mixing biomass with fossil fuels.
Whether you are using biomass power for biofuel, biopower and bioproducts, the benefits to the use of biomass are similar. http://www.biomass-energy.org.uk/pros-and-cons/ Advantages include The environmentally friendly nature of biomass. Biomass comes from organic compounds and is much better for the earth than other fuel sources. Biomass can help to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and an ever-dwindling supply of fossil fuels.
Retrofitting biomass into your power plant or switching to biofuel is a relatively low-cost proposition depending on your needs. For instance, when switching a coal-fired plant to a cogeneration plant that can utilize biomass, the cost is significantly cheaper than it would be if you had to build new facilities.
Further, government regulations could require you to look for greener and more environmentally friendly alternatives, and biomass can provide the answers you are looking for.
