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How we use Biomass

There are several ways to release the energy stored in biomass:

Burning: Energy is produced by burning wood, animal waste like manure, corn cobs, sugar cane, fruit pits and garbage. Garbage is used in many towns to produce electricity in waste-to-energy plants. By burning the garbage they save on the use of landfills.

Fermentation: Energy is produced by adding yeast (a bacteria) to biomass materials like wheat, corn, grapes and lots of other agricultural crops to produce an alcohol called ethanol. Ethanol can be used to power cars instead of gasoline or mixed with gasoline to produce a fuel called gasohol.

Conversion: Energy is produced in by converting biomass like cow manure into gas (like methane) and liquid fuels. By adding heat or chemicals to the biomass it produces a fuel that can be burned to produce electricity.

Bacterial Decay: Natural bacteria feed on dead and decaying plants and animals. As they decay, it produces a gas called methane. Methane is odorless and colorless and very rich in energy and can be burned to produce heat and electricity.

Energy from biomass in the United States accounts for only 3% of the energy we produce. Most of the biomass energy comes from burning wood and the rest from agricultural crops, garbage and landfill gases.

Biomass is friendlier to the environment than burning fossil fuels, but can still pollute the air. But unlike fossil fuels, biomass does not produce pollutants like sulfur which can cause acid rain. Growing plants and trees for biomass use helps the environment as plants use carbon dioxide to grow while producing and emitting oxygen into the air.