What is Biomass?
Biological material such as trees and plants can be turned into fuel through a process called biomass. Trees, grass, and vegetables are all easy to grow and harvest. Every plant contains components that can give large outputs of energy. Biomass takes advantage of these components, as well as the energy found in a plant’s photosynthesis process, to create fuel.
Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and sun energy to provide a plant with the food, or carbohydrates, it needs to grow. A plant is composed of cells, water, and the compounds used in photosynthesis. Biomass takes the components of a plant and creates a mixture of three-quarters carbohydrates and one-quarter plant matter. These carbohydrates are mixed with other plant matter in order to create fuel or energy. When burned, biomass can create energy in the form of electricity, heat, or chemical energy.
Many people use the simplest form of biomass on a regular basis. Chopping down older trees, harvesting the wood, and burning it indoors in a fireplace or wood stove produces heat. This act is a form of biomass energy production or biopower.
There are three forms of biomass: biopower, bioproducts, and biofuels. Biofuels are used to fuel vehicles. Biopower uses plant matter and converts it to steam. This steam is used to power things such as coal engines, wood stoves, and steam engines. Bioproducts are any products created from plant matter.
Some states now use bioethanol to fuel vehicles. The fuel runs cleaner than gasoline and is far more cost effective. The plant matter is converted into ethanol/alcohol and can be used to replace a percentage of the gasoline being used.
With oil costs rising drastically, biomass is an effective alternative to oil products. In 2005, more than 200 gas stations began offering an 85% mixture of bioethanol and gasoline. This fuel is cheaper than pure gasoline and runs cleaner. As an added incentive, dealers who offer bioethanol mixtures are now given tax credits of up to 1 US dollar per gallon. Therefore, gas station owners also benefit from biomass products.
Written by Shannon Kietzman
