Renewable energy derived from organic mass is called bioenergy or biomass energy. Bioenergy currently provides over 15% of the world's total energy supply. The application of bioenergy came in action ever since the people has started burning wood for cooking food. And even today wood is still our largest bioenergy resource.
SOURCES OF BIOENERGY
SOURCES OF BIOENERGY
Biomass is the organic material that contains bioenergy. Biomass contains residues from plants and animals and also other wastes from industries and municipalities. Carbon gases are emitted while burning biomass fuel. Biomass is obtained as a by-product from most of the waste treatment processes. Processing of biomass results in generating liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel which can be used in vehicles and some other processes in industries.
As mentioned before the wood is still the largest source of bioenergy. Wood is widely used as a fuel in several generic forms such as wood pellets, wood chips, forest residues, charcoal, wood wastes etc. Other than its use for cooking and heating, wood can also be used for fueling steam engines and turbines to generate electricity.
Anaerobic digestion is another source of bioenergy. It is a biological process which results in generating biogases as end products. Useful renewable energy can be obtained after proper processing of these biogases. Sewage manure, agricultural wastes, and other wet wastes can be anaerobically digested to produce a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide which acts as a biogas. Combustion of these biogases produces heat which can be used to power gas engines and heat engines.
USES AND CHARACTERISTICS
Bioenergy is widely used in modern applications such as dendro-power, co-generation and CHP (Combined Heat and Power generation) processes. It can also be used as an alternative to fossil fuel based applications. Useful energy carriers such as heat, electricity and transport fuels can be obtained from various biomass energy resources.
Bioenergy does not have any greenhouse gas emission. It can be stored with minimal energy losses. It can also improve soil fertility. It can also generate both heat and electricity. On the downside, bioenergy is generally an expensive source when compared with fossil fuels. It can lead to deforestation sometimes.
As mentioned before the wood is still the largest source of bioenergy. Wood is widely used as a fuel in several generic forms such as wood pellets, wood chips, forest residues, charcoal, wood wastes etc. Other than its use for cooking and heating, wood can also be used for fueling steam engines and turbines to generate electricity.
Anaerobic digestion is another source of bioenergy. It is a biological process which results in generating biogases as end products. Useful renewable energy can be obtained after proper processing of these biogases. Sewage manure, agricultural wastes, and other wet wastes can be anaerobically digested to produce a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide which acts as a biogas. Combustion of these biogases produces heat which can be used to power gas engines and heat engines.
USES AND CHARACTERISTICS
Bioenergy is widely used in modern applications such as dendro-power, co-generation and CHP (Combined Heat and Power generation) processes. It can also be used as an alternative to fossil fuel based applications. Useful energy carriers such as heat, electricity and transport fuels can be obtained from various biomass energy resources.
Bioenergy does not have any greenhouse gas emission. It can be stored with minimal energy losses. It can also improve soil fertility. It can also generate both heat and electricity. On the downside, bioenergy is generally an expensive source when compared with fossil fuels. It can lead to deforestation sometimes.
