Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is the energy from plants and plant-derived materials such as wood.

Wood is still the largest source of biomass energy today, but other sources are plentiful as well.

Food crops, grassy and woody plants can all be used as well. Also, residues from farming or forestry, and the organic materials in industrial wastes qualify. Even the fumes from landfill sites - which are methane gas - can be used.

This energy has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Burning biomass releases about the same amount of carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels.

However, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide captured by photosynthesis millions of years ago. This becomes a new greenhouse gas.

But biomass releases carbon dioxide captured in its own growth therefore balancing out the damage caused to the environment. This can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90% compared with fossil fuels.

Which produces numerous environmental benefits;

Because biomass becomes a part of the carbon cycle, air pollution is substantially reduced.

And because less fertilizers and pesticides are used to grow energy crops, water pollution is reduced.

For more information on this subject go to biomass energy

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