Biomass Energy Resources

The term biomass is used for any material associated with living things and from which energy can be derived; in short, these are sources of energy. Examples of such materials are wood, waste materials produced by living beings, fuels, gases, etc.

Biomass Energy Resources from Waste
Waste materials that are generated through different processes of day-to-day life can be put to good use if treated properly. If we look around, there is lot of energy that goes unused. This energy can be smartly used and most of our needs can be fulfilled. There are many biomass energy advantages which need to be understood in order to make better use of them.

The most basic/traditional way of obtaining energy from organic materials is that of burning them to obtain heat. This heat is used to create steam out of water. There are many applications of the heat being generated. The turbines at electric power stations can be fueled with this heat to generate electricity. In temperate countries, this heat proves to be useful in keeping the house warm by circulating hot water through a network of pipes.

Biomass Energy Resources from Agricultural Wastes
The different activities involved in agriculture leads to the production of many different waste materials. Biogas production is the best example of utilizing the biomass renewable energy. The waste materials such as cow dung, straw (which remains after harvesting the crops) and other wastes on the farm can be used for producing biogas. A biogas plant is roughly divided into an inlet, digester and outlet. The inlet/feeder is used to dump the agricultural wastes. The digester processes these raw materials, and gas is produced. Outlet collects the residue which remains after gas is extracted from the raw stuff. A dome shaped metal with a pipe is used for collecting the gas (methane). As the gas is filled in the dome, it slowly rises above. A pipe is used to supply the gas where it is needed.

Another such source of energy is sugarcane. This crop can serve to be one of the great biomass energy resources even after the juice is extracted from the sugarcane. The left-over pulp i.e. bagasse, which is obtained from sugar factories, can be used in power stations. This electricity can in turn be used for running the sugar factories. This activity can help in minimizing the costs and thereby reducing the dependence on fossil fuels.

Obtaining Energy from Living Biomass
The techniques of burning biomass resources to obtain energy is one of the crude and antiquated techniques. Destroying the living things / their by-products and then obtaining energy from the heat obtained by burning would only provide a limited amount of energy. Making use of livestock to convert mechanical power (of bullocks and such animals) to electricity through dynamos (fitted on wheels of carts) is one of the smart techniques. Many such smart methods can be devised.

Biomass Energy Resource Center
The Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) is a non-profit organization based in Monpelier, Vermont, USA. The organization is founded with an objective to make sustainable use of energy, to work towards energy security in the United States and in making the environment healthier. Positive steps in this direction to reduce dependency on fossil fuels need to be undertaken. Understanding the biomass energy pros and cons should help in taking correct decisions.

The biomass energy resources if used efficiently can play an important role in solving most of our problems pertaining to energy crisis. It is however, our responsibility to make judicious use of natural resources and not use them up entirely. Such steps may leave the future generations with at least something (natural resources) to obtain fuel.