Renewable Sources Of Energy : Glasgow And The West Of Scotland

To present a counter argument on this issue, there are various advantages of using biofuels as well such as preserving the natural environment and saving the planet from harmful gaseous omissions. Ethanol,

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.

Due to high costs of oil, many countries have taken the act of turning to renewable energy sources. Burning fossil fuels also has a downside to the environment, polluting the air and water, and damaging the health of plants and animals. The BP Oil spill of 2010 is one example of how dangerous fossil fuels are when they are exposed to the environment. There is much controversy in the United States for renewable energy sources being funded, but the facts are on the rise. Having a cleaner and more efficient source of energy is important for both environmental, political, and financial reasons.

Since ethanol is a renewable source of energy and has lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than gasoline, ethanol produced from biomass is expected to be used more frequently as an alternative fuel.

6a. Discuss the pros and cons of alternative energy as a viable alternative to traditional energy generation on the Western coast of Scotland

There are many opportunities for energy extraction in Australia, which may or may not be currently being benefited from. The issue of energy today is what the current situation of energy in Australia is and how it will improve or decline in the coming years. The subjects which are contributing factors are the current exploitation of non-renewable energy sources, how renewable sources are being used in Australia and what the Government’s energy policy is and also what the RET is.

Biomass 3 Biomass energy or can be preferred as bioenergy has been used “since people began burning wood to cook food and keep warm” (NREL, Biomass Energy Basics 2007). Though wood is the “largest biomass energy resource today, other sources of biomass can also be used” (NREL, Biomass Energy Basics 2007). These include crops, garbage, landfill gas, and alcohol fuels. For centuries people have been using wood as a source of energy for mainly cooking and heating. “Wood was the main source of energy in the U.S. and the rest of the world until the mid-1800s.” (eia, BIOMASS -- Renewable Energy from Plants and Animals 2007). Thus, biomass continues to be an important source of energy that would somehow prevent us from future disaster. “In the United States wood and waste (bark, sawdust, wood chips, and wood scrap) provide only about 2 percent of the energy we use today. Many manufacturing plants in the wood and paper products industry use wood waste to produce their own steam and electricity.” (eia, BIOMASS -- Renewable Energy from Plants and Animals 2007). Without having to buy much electricity, these companies were able to save money because they did not have to arrange their waste products.

The use of biomass as an alternative source of energy will provide relief to deforestation because it is environmentally friendly. Biomass is a renewable type of energy; manufactured through recycled waste products to create fuel, thus helping the environment clean by reusing waste.

Unlike gasoline or diesel, biofuels release little pollution. It can also be used to produce electricity by heating water using biofuels and using the steam produced to rotate a turbine. Another method is to allow the biofuel to decay and produce methane. Methane is commonly used as fuel for car, heating, cooking, and producing electricity.

We live in a world where our actions and choices today, can lead to some horrific things tomorrow. Many have become so dependent on machines and other electronic devices, which require energy and fuel. The primary fuels that we use today are harmful for the environment and may have a limited supply. Although often overlooked, it is important for us to take small steps towards living more eco-friendly lives, this requires alternative energy. I feel a greater use of biomass, an alternative energy, can help slow the downturn of the Earth from its environmental catastrophe.

US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is working to replace the whole barrel of oil using biomass feedstocks. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/about.html

The content of Dr. Lobban’s lecture best correlates with standard five, “The importance, changes, meaning, modification, use (and distribution) of natural resources.” Within the context of biofuels, biomass is important as a natural resource because it’s at the heart of the entire process. As hard as it may be to believe, the viscous liquid that results from pyrolysis was once switchgrass. Biomass is changing in the sense that researchers are finding more and more ways to generate renewable energy from it. Even the research itself is evolving as the focus shifts towards the creation of petrochemicals. Who would’ve thought grass could be used to produce plastic? However, it is vital not to forget than biomass supplies, while renewable, can be overdrawn in the same way as petroleum. This process of energy

Majority of feedstock of biomass come from wood, wood wastes, agricultural crops including waste such as animal waste or from food processing. According to Demirbas A (2000), about 64 percent of biomass energy is generated from wood and wood waste, followed by municipal solid waste with 24 percent, agricultural waste and landfill gases have the same 5 percent. Additionally, the feedstock of biomass can come from ocean and freshwater habitats as well. Biomass has been important, accounting for 7% of world primary energy consumption in 2000 (Fernandes, S.D, 2007), or roughly one-third of the energy from sources other than fossil fuels (Sabine, C.L, 2000), compared to less than 1% of the global energy demand on renewable energies such as wind and solar (Energy Information Administration (2007) International Primary Energy Production).

Nation’s socio-economic development leads to increased use of energy which cannot be fulfilled using renewable energy sources. Biomass energy is generated

Fossil Fuels have been a point of concern among environmentalist due to its harmful effects on the environment. The potential for alternative energy has been thoroughly studied concerning the use of forest biomass. Replacing fuels with biomass could reduce our foreign dependence on petroleum and minimize CO2 emissions. When considering the benefits "forest biomass can provide a domestic energy resource, create local jobs and provide financial incentives to forest owners" Studies have shown that biomass supply "ranging from 4.2-15.1 million metric tons/yr used in the most efficient current technology, forest biomass energy would constitute 1.4-5.5% of the entire region's current energy consumption". The region's size, population and energy consumption would determine the greater or lesser benefit, which would be received by the use of biomass. The use of biomass would also create jobs around the world, due to the fact that it