BIOMASS

Biomass is organic matter of vegetable or animal origin, including waste and organic
waste, which can be harnessed energetically. Plants transform the radiant energy of the
sun into chemical energy through photosynthesis, and part of this energy is stored as
organic matter.

PROS

1.- It is a source of renewable energy

Throughout the planet there is the possibility of accessing biomass sources such as crop residues, manure and
organic waste. In the course of a year in which all these sources are transformed into biofuels, equivalent
amounts are being generated in crops, farms and cities. The pace of transformation resembles the growth rate
of harvests and harvesting, and may be as short as a few months in some cases.

2.- Neutral with regard to carbon emissions

This may be the biggest and most important advantage of energy from biomass. Biomass enters fully into the
carbon cycle. The carbon of the atmosphere is captured by plants during photosynthesis and becomes part of
their structures. When the plant dies or is burned, that carbon returns to the atmosphere. Since it is a cycle, the
following crops absorb carbon again and again, so a balance is maintained between the amount of carbon the
biomass fuel releases into the atmosphere and the amount the plants extract from it. For this reason, fuels
from biomass do not contribute to global warming, and are considered clean fuels.

3.- Minimum price

The use of energy contained in the biomass is very economical compared to oil or coal. It usually costs about
a third of fossil fuels to get the same result. This means that if your heating depended on biomass, you could
save one third of the cost of heating it with diesel every year, which is a big savings.

4.- Biomass is abundant

Biomass is available in large quantities worldwide. Therefore, in general, large transport infrastructures are
not necessary to take them to their destination.

- It favors the economy of the rural sectors by the commercial use of the agricultural stubble and the
forest.
- The raw material to obtain biomass energy is very abundant.
- It has ecological advantages like renewable energy since it does not produce pollutant emissions.
- Waste and refuse are reused that accumulate damaging the environment.
CONS

1.- It can be expensive

In certain areas and under certain conditions, biomass extraction can be expensive. This also happens in
harvesting projects that involve the collection, processing and storage of some types of biomass.

2.- Requires space

Large areas are needed for the different processes used to obtain energy from biomass. Also the storage areas
can be particularly extensive.

3.- Environmental aspects

On occasion, large areas of forest or silvicultural areas are used for the production of biomass, destroying
habitats of great ecological value and causing the disappearance or movement of animal species by destroying
their refuges and food sources.

There is no doubt that energy from biomass is one of the possible substitutes for fossil fuels. The benefit of
being a renewable and clean energy source can not be overlooked. We will have to see what role biomass can
play in the future in obtaining energy.

- The biggest disadvantage of this alternative energy is that the crop destined to the production of the
biomass is more profitable than the one of groceries, reason why many farmers stop to cultivate food
with negative repercussion in the food crisis.
- The productivity of biomass boilers is somewhat lower than those of liquid or gaseous fossil fuel.
- Biomass produces lower density energy, requiring more resources for its production and storage.

THE LAST IS A CONCLUSION ACCORDING TO THE PROS