Before people started talking about energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, biomass energy was used in many forms.
If this type of energy didn’t have its benefits, it would have been different. Although the availability of biomass fuels is a significant reason for their use, there are many other reasons.
Biomass energy is a leading contender for replacing fossil fuels as the march continues.
These are the main reasons.
It is Renewable
Renewable energy sources can be replenished when they are used up. It can re-grow many biomass fuels, such as wood or plant life. This makes it a renewable source.
It is possible to outlast fossil fuels if efforts are made to preserve the biomass energy resources through dedicated replanting, replenishment and maintenance.
This is the key difference between renewable energy sources like water and the sun, except maintenance. Even though plant life is plentiful, if you don’t make an effort to replenish it, large amounts can be wasted. This is what we see with deforestation.
Carbon Neutrality
Climate change is largely caused by the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. This is because biomass, a natural component of the carbon cycle, reduces it.
It is the only carbon released into the atmosphere by biomass fuels. The plants are absorbed during their lifecycles.
These plants absorb the same amount again as the original ones, creating neutrality where no new carbon is created. This makes biomass fuels extremely clean.
Reduced dependence on fossil fuels
The more biomass energy we use, the less dependence we have on fossil fuels, which are major contributors to climate change and other environmental problems.
It is also more accessible than fossil fuels because of the abundance of biomass materials.
Even better, non-renewable resources, like oil, can be used to fuel other uses.
It’s versatile
Biomass energy is one of the most versatile options. You can convert it into many fuel sources with different applications.
Biomass can be used to make biodiesel, but it can also serve as a source of methane gas and other biofuels.
Wood can also be used to produce heat. However, some forms of biomass can produce steam that can power turbines to make energy.
Available
There are many biomass fuels. They can be found almost anywhere globally, just like water and the sun.
We won’t have to deal with the same issues as we do now when it comes to availability.
It is important to ensure that this abundance continues. Although biomass fuels are a natural part of the natural cycle of life on the planet, they should not be used irresponsibly.
Low cost compared to fossil fuels.
The cost of collecting biomass fuels is much lower than drilling for oil and creating pipelines.
This low cost can be passed on to consumers as well, as their energy bills will no longer depend on availability or the decisions made by the energy suppliers.
This low cost makes biomass more appealing to producers as they can make higher profits with less output.
It reduces waste
Most of the waste we produce can be recycled as biodegradable or plant matter.
Biomass energy can often use waste that would otherwise sit in landfills. This helps reduce the negative effects of such sites on the natural environment. These include contaminating wildlife habitats and causing damage.
As a result, less waste is created, and more land can be used for human habitation.
Domestic Production
The control over energy production can be taken out of the hands of larger companies by biomass fuel. People are no longer dependent on power companies or their charges.
Because biomass is so versatile, almost anyone can produce it and use it at home.
Although it is not easy, burning wood can be a cost-saving and more beneficial option than central heating.
The disadvantages of biomass energy
- It’s not Completely Clean
- Higher Costs Compared To Other Alternatives
- Possible Deforestation
- Space
- You Need Water
- It Has Inefficiencies
- It’s under development
Although biomass has many benefits, it is not an ideal energy source.
Like all sources, disadvantages should also be considered. This is essential if biomass energy works for those who need it.
Some of these problems are directly related to fuel use, while others are indirect production and application.
These are all important points to remember to get a complete picture of the utility of biomass energy.
It’s not completely clean.
Although biomass is a carbon-neutral fuel source, it’s not 100% clean.
Other emissions are created by burning wood and other plant species in addition to carbon. Even though the impacts aren’t as severe as those from fossil fuels, they can pollute the environment.
The Partnership for Policy Integration points out that biomass fuels are air polluting. This is a significant disadvantage when compared to other renewables like water.
Comparable to other alternatives, high costs
Although the cost of extracting biomass fuels may be lower than other types of fossil fuels, they are still more expensive than many forms of renewable energy.
Sometimes, biomass projects may not be economically feasible, particularly when other options such as solar, wind, and water.
This is due to the necessity of maintaining biomass resources and replanting extracted biomass. The cost of the machinery required to extract the biomass is another factor.
Possible Deforestation
Although biomass fuels can be renewable, they must also be maintained. This can cause widespread deforestation.
This is a serious environmental problem. This drastically reduces the habitat areas for scores of wildlife species, leading to their extinction.
This is a significant factor that prevents the large-scale use of biomass fuels since replanting efforts might not keep up with the fuel demand.
Space
To grow biomass energy materials, you need a lot of space. It isn’t easy to find this space, especially in urban areas.
This limits the area where biomass power plants can be constructed since they must be near the fuel source to reduce transportation costs and other costs.
They are less attractive than solar power, which takes up less space and can be installed in urban areas. The land could have also been used for crops, which is especially important considering the high population of the planet.
It needs water
The amount of water required to produce biomass energy is a common disadvantage. Every plant needs water to survive, so there must always be water sources.
This can lead to higher irrigation costs and result in less water available for wildlife and humans.
It is also worth considering that water is an alternative energy source and is far cleaner than bioenergy. This raises the question as to why water isn’t being used instead.
It has inefficiencies
Although biomass fuels can be used as a natural fuel, they are not as efficient as fossil fuels like gasoline and petroleum.
Biodiesel or similar biofuels can often be combined with small amounts of fossil fuels to increase their effectiveness.
This reduces the effectiveness of these biofuels to reduce fossil fuel use.
It is currently under development.
To fully harness the potential of biomass energy, more needs to be done. Many of the negative aspects listed here make biomass energy a less viable alternative fuel source.
Biomass is less efficient and better-studied than other energy sources, such as solar and water.
Scientists are still trying to improve the efficiency of biomass energy. It is unlikely that biomass energy can be used on a large scale as an alternative fuel source until that barrier is overcome.
The Last Word
There is a lot of potential in biomass energy. It is a carbon-neutral fuel source, which offers lower prices than fossil fuels and has a wide range of uses.
Many problems prevent wider adoption. Particularly, many issues need to be addressed to improve fuel efficiency and space and cost.
It is unlikely that biomass energy can be a viable alternative to fossil fuels until this happens. However, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some uses. Particularly, the domestic and local use of biomass energy can result in a decrease in energy bills.