Advantage And Disadvantage Of Biomass

Fuels are materials such as coal, gas, wood or oil that store potential energy as when combusted in air, produce heat energy. The energy used every day comes in many different forms from many different sources, a main source being fuels. Chemical energy found in fuels and foods is changed into heat energy by combustion (burning in oxygen). Since the camping trip is at a National Park, materials such as wood, charcoal and peat cannot be used as all these substances provide natural habitats for native wildlife in the area, therefore the fuels

However, despite its many advantages biomass still has many disadvantages. Firstly it is not as efficient as fossil fuels, for example the ethanol produced for cars via biomass is not even close to the efficiency of petrol and does damage to engines over time. It also has the potential to harm the environment through increase of methane gases which are produced as a bi-product if animal and human waste is used. Biomass also requires a large distance away from residential areas in order to burn it and a large amount of fuel in comparison to other energy sources which can have dramatic effects if large portions of forests are cut down to provide lumber.1

Biomass energy is a renewable energy source from living or recently living plant and animal materials which can be used as fuel. There are many ways in which we could produce this energy such as heat and steam. Also, instead of leaving waste in landfills, we’re reusing that waste and converting it into usable power. Pros: 1. Renewable. 2. Dependency on Fossil Fuels is Reduced 3. Protects air quality 4. Improves forest health. Cons: 1. Not 100% clean. 2. Requires a lot of water. 3. Not as efficient as fossil fuels.

In the article, the Burning Question, the issue of biomass energy via wood pellets was brought to question. This subject has deeply divided scientists, primarily from the chemistry and environmental science disciplines, economists, and politicians. Currently the use of wood pellets for energy, under the European Union, is classified as a carbon-neutral fuel. The argument for this designation lies in the regeneration of trees to take up the carbon released from burning past trees. However, many scientists call foul, basing their argument on the substantial lag period between burning trees and the regeneration of them. This period has led many to worry that such actions will worsen the current global warming crisis. Biomass energy plants produce,

Scattered records of the use of coal date to at least 1100 BC. By the middle Ages, small mining operations began to spread in Europe, where coal was used for forges, smithies, lime-burners, and breweries. The invention of fire bricks in the 1400s made chimneys cheap to build and helped create a home heating market for coal. Coal was firmly established as a domestic fuel in much of Europe by the 1570s, and represented the major heating source for buildings, especially in cities located far from easy access to less energy-dense biomass forms.

ii. He wanted to build a boat that was powered by solar power and wind power.

In different nations, numerous individuals still rely on upon wood for fuel. GoSun stove depends on the sun's energy, which is renewable. This spares trees from deforestation and secures endangered species.

Biofuels are fuels made from biomass, which is the organic physical material of an organism that is or was alive. Biomasses can be separated into two categories - liquids and solids. Liquid biomass fuels include biodiesel and ethanol. Solids include charcoal, garbage, wood, and manure. The majority of organic matter contains carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, the same elements that make up fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. Biomass can be burned as is or converted into a different fuel that burns more efficiently. The use of biomass for fuel is not a new idea, as humans long ago used whatever could help them survive. Solid biofuels like wood, manure, and charcoal have been used ever since man discovered

Another concern in using the current methods of cooking with biomass is environmental concerns. According to Kris De Decker, “The environmental degradation caused by biomass stoves is equally problematic” (Decker). The collection and usage of biomass can cause deforestation, desertification, land degradation, soil erosion, and emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, when dung and residues are used for fuel rather than left in the fields or tilled back into fields, soil fertility is reduced and inclination to soil erosion is increased. According to National Geographic’s in the article Three Billon People Cook Over Open Fires, “the world’s billions of household’s fires are also thought to be accelerating the effects of climate change, speeding the disruption of monsoon cycles and the melting of glaciers” (Nijhuis).

 Water Heaters  Portable Generators  Gas Engines  Charcoal or Gas Grills  Wood burning Stoves  Lanterns  Gas Stoves  Other Sources where fuel is used for combustion

In a campfire, the fuel is wood, a complex natural material made up of many types of molecules,

Another pro argument of deforestation is the issue of fuel wood in rural areas. The use of fuel wood in the growing cities contrasts strictly with the more familiar patterns of rural areas. The growth of energy used in rural household still dominates the energy budgets of many developing countries, especially in the poorer countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Nigeria. Most fuel wood is used in the household. The concept of an energy transition, however, is central to any understanding energy in urban areas. As

“How does the Starlight Stove score on each of these factors?” The product appears to offer a strong relative advantage as compared to alternatives. Although the health benefits may be difficult for users to immediately appreciate, the potential economic value generated by spending less time collecting fuel and having longer working days should be more apparent. The stove’s features fit with existing values and experiences, but the production of electricity does not fit well. These closely correlate with complexity. How the product actually works and the benefits it offers may not be understood without further explanation. The product is not something that users can easily experiment with. Observability might be moderate – possibly depending upon the extent to which Nepalese invite others into their homes.

In house women’s activities invariably revolve around the kitchen stove into the house and any improvement in the design of the traditional chulha (stove) will help in reducing the fuel intake and the inconvenience of smoke and soot. Smokeless chulha which is the modern chulha or stove is a cooking stove mainly used in the village area that can be made with locally available material like cow dung, clay, soil, chimney pipe and net iron plate. (Naeher et al., 2007; Smith, 2006; WHO, 2006).

The sources of energy consumption vary from place to place; non-renewable sources being the most commonly used form of energy. In Nepal, the energy supply largely depends on the sources such as fuel wood, animal dung, crop residues and fossil fuels, which covers 86.5% of total energy consumption (MOF, 2010). This data shows that energy supplied and consumed in traditional way with commercial sources like petroleum products, coal and electricity; and other renewable sources covering only 12.8% and 0.7% of the total energy consumption, respectively (Ministry of Finance [MOF], 2010). Nepal uses electricity for the various purposes such as residential use (87 percent), transport (6 percent), industries (5 percent), agriculture (1 percent) and commercial uses (1 percent) (MOF, 2012).