Global Climate Change

& Alternative

Energy Research Project BIOMASSBy: Sara Ruiz-Miner & Natalie

Rodriguez

Introduction

• How is this energy created?The old way of converting biomass to

energywas practiced for thousands of years, it

is simply to burn it toproduce heat. • Where does it come from? Biomass comes from plant materials and

animalwaste.

Problem

• How do we capture/control this energy?

The most common way to capture the energy from biomass

was to burn it, to make heat, steam, and electricity.

Materials

• What technology do we currently use to make it work?

Biomass fuels, also known as biofuels, may be solid, liquid, or

gas and are derived from biomass feedstock. Biofuel

technologies can efficently transform the energy in biomass

into transportation, heating, and electricity generating fuels.

Data• What are the start-up costs with using this form of energy?Data shows that between 2010 and 2030, global biomass andwaste power generation could grow 62 to 270 gigawatts, withinvestments totaling between $21 billion and $35 billion.• What are the recurring costs of this form of energy? Using conventional combustion technology without

cogeneration,the estimate cost to generate electricity from biomass rangesfrom 5.2 to 6.7 cents per kilowatt- hour in Oregon and the

PacificNorthwest Actual costs would vary depending on financing,location, system design and fuel cost.

Application• How is this energy being used now? Biomass can be converted directly into heat by burning it. Many people around the world use wood orpeat to heat their homes or for cooking. Also agriculturalwastes such as corn stalks can be converted into a highenergy fuel that can be added to gasoline for cars. Pg 464in physical science book• Is this energy being used in our area? Yes, the last question demonstrated its common/ modernuse.• Where is this energy being used now?In exactly 350 power plants worldwide.

Conclusion• What are the benefits of this energy? -EconomicIt supports about 66,000 jobs in the U.S. In thefuture about 170,000 jobs. Can reduce dependency on out- of- state and foreign energysources.-Environmental BenefitsBiomass fuels “recycle” atmospheric carbon, minimizing global warming.Biomass combustion produces less ash than coal and reduces ash disposalcost and landfill space requirements.• What are the drawbacks of this type of energy? Expensive, inefficient as compared to fossil fuels, harmful to the

environment consumesmore fuel and requires more land.• Are there any concerns with this form of energy? If we use Biofuel, which is made out of crops/ the food we use it all to

create the gasoline for cars, wewould all be lead to starvation.

Resources

• www.ucsusa.com • www.all-energy-solutions.com• www.biomassmagazine.com

Biomass Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ-cIVJuDks