1.

0 Introduction:
Biomass is defined as the biological degradable fraction of products, waste and residues
from agriculture (including animal and vegetable materials), forestry the biological degradable
fraction of industrial and growing as it releases when consumes as a fuel Its household
waste.
Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from the carbonaceous waste of
various human natural activities. Currently, the biomass sources contribute 14% of global
energy and 38% of energy in developing countries. It is derived from various sources,
including the byproducts from the timber industry, agricultural crops, raw material
from the forest, major parts of household waste and wood. Globally, the energy content
of biomass residues in Development of technologies for multiple fuel option made biomass as
cheap and effective fuel [1].

Biomass production involves using garbage or other renewable resources such as corn or other
vegetation to generate electricity. When garbage decomposes, the methane produced is
captured in pipes and later burned to produce electricity. Vegetation and wood can be burned
directly to generate energy, like fossil fuels or processed to form alcohols.
Vegetable oil is generated from sunlight, H2O, and CO2 by plants. It is safer to use and store
than gasoline or diesel as it has a higher flash point. Straight vegetable oil works in diesel
engines if it is heated first. Vegetable oil can also be trans esterified to make  biodiesel, which
burns like normal diesel[1].

Fig 1: Biomass Energy

2.0 Types of Biomass:

 Wood and Agricultural Products:

Most biomass used today is home grown energy. Wood—logs, chips, bark, and sawdust—
accounts for about 44 percent of biomass energy. But any organic matter can produce biomass
energy. Other biomass sources can include agricultural waste products like fruit pits and
corncobs. Wood and wood waste are used to generate electricity. Much of the electricity is
used by the industries making the waste; it is not distributed by utilities, it is a process called
cogeneration. Paper mills and saw mills use much of their waste products to generate steam
and electricity for their use. However, since they use so much energy, they need to buy
additional electricity from utilities.

 Solid Waste:

Burning trash turns waste into a usable form of energy. One ton (2,000 pounds) of garbage
contains about as much heat energy as 500 pounds of coal. Garbage is not all biomass; perhaps
half of its energy content comes from plastics, which are made from petroleum and natural gas.
Power plants that burn garbage for energy are called waste-to-energy plants. These plants
generate electricity much as coal-red plants do, except that combustible garbage not coal is the
fuel use to re their boilers.

 Landfill Gas and Biogas:

Bacteria and fungi are not picky eaters. They eat dead plants and animals, causing them to rot
or decay. A fungus on a rotting log is converting cellulose to sugars to feed itself. Although
this process is slowed in landfills, a substance called methane gas is still produced as the waste
decays. New regulations require landfills to collect methane gas for safety and environmental
reasons. Methane gas is colorless and odorless, but it is not harmless. The gas can cause res or
explosions if it seeps into nearby homes and is ignited. Land fills can collect the methane gas,
purify it, and use it as fuel. Methane can also be produced using energy from agricultural and
human wastes. Biogas digesters are airtight containers or pits lined with steel or bricks. Waste
put into the containers is fermented without oxygen to produce a methane-rich gas. This gas
can be used to produce electricity, or for cooking and lighting[2].
  Ethanol:

Ethanol is an alcohol fuel (ethyl alcohol) made by fermenting the sugars and starches found in
plants and then distilling them. Any organic material containing cellulose, starch, or sugar can
be made into ethanol. The majority of the ethanol produced in the United States comes from
corn. New technologies are producing ethanol from cellulose in woody bers from trees,
grasses, and crop residues. Today nearly all of the gasoline sold in the U.S. contains around 10
percent ethanol and is known as E10. In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) approved the introduction of E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) for use in
passenger vehicles from model year 2001 and newer. Fuel containing 85 percent ethanol and
15 percent gasoline (E85) qualities as an alternative fuel. There are more than 10 million -exile
fuel vehicles (FFV) on the road that can run efficiently on E85 or E10. However, just under 10
percent of these vehicles use E85 regularly.

3.0 Advantages of biomass:

Biomass has been in existence before people started talking about renewable energy sources and
energy efficiency. This long term use would not be possible if biomass didn’t have any benefit.
As most governments are leading campaigns to find alternative sources of fuel to fossils,
biomass energy continues to make headlines as a possible alternative. Here are the advantages
that make biomass energy a perfect alternative to fossil fuels[2].

 It’s a renewable form of energy: Biomass energy is considered a renewable form of energy
because the organic materials used to produce it are never-ending. The organic materials
including wood, crop waste, garbage, sewage sludge, and manure are continually produced by
society. In a nutshell, regrowth of these organic materials supports the fact that biomass is
renewable[3].
 Its carbon neutral: Biomass energy takes care of this since it is a natural part of the carbon
cycle as opposed to fossil-based sources of fuel such as oil, natural gas, and coal. Researchers
say that the only carbon emitted to the environment from biomass fuels is the amount that was
absorbed by plants in the course of their life cycle. In the process of replenishing the used plant
materials, the new ones that spring up absorb equal quantity of carbon, hence, developing
 neutrality that witnesses no new carbon generated. This aspect renders biomass uniquely clean
[3].
 Widely available: Just` like sun and wind energy, biomass energy sources are bountiful in
supply. You can find them virtually in every nook and cranny of the world. The fact that it’s
bountiful in supply means that we may never encounter problems that we are presently
experiencing with fossil-based sources of fuel. Nonetheless, it’s vital that we maintain the
abundance of this natural resource by being responsible in its use.
 It’s cheaper compared to fossil fuels: Producing biomass energy does not involve heavy capital
outlay. Fossil fuels production, on the other hand, involves high upfront capital costs such as
drilling to reach oil wells, constructing gas pipelines and collection of biomass fuel. The low
cost resulting from the production of biomass fuel is passed on to customers. This means that
customer’s energy bills will not depend on aspects such as availability and knee jack decisions
of energy production and supply firms. Low biomass cost makes this form of energy attractive
to manufacturers and producers since they are able to generate higher profits from extremely
low output.
 Minimizes overdependence on traditional electricity: Virtually anyone can produce biomass
energy because the raw materials are available everywhere. Traditional forms of electricity can
sometimes be unreliable due to power outages. Biomass energy produced at home can be a
good backup for traditional electricity.
 Reduces amount of waste in landfills: Most waste produced in homes is either plant matter or
biodegradable. This kind of waste can be channeled to more profitable use. Biomass energy
generation utilizes any waste that would have otherwise found way into landfills. This
minimizes the impacts of waste in landfills to the environment. This impact may be
compounded by contamination of local habitats and destruction of wildlife ecosystems.
Minimized waste means reduction of land intended for landfills, hence, more space for human
habitats.
 Can be used to Create Different Products: Biomass energy is also versatile, as different forms
of organic matter can be used to create different products. Ethanol and similar fuels can be
made from corn and other crops. With so many living things on the planet, there is no limit to
how many ways it can be found and used[3].
 Fig2:Scope of biomass

4.0 Threats of using biomass

 Deforestation and Farming Practices

Biomass requires energy crops grown on a large scale. Grasses and other inedible, high-cellulose
crops are the most common. These carry the same environmental impacts as food crops in terms
of pest control, watering and erosion.

The removal of forest for the production of energy crops can also increase greenhouse gases; 25
to 30 percent of greenhouse gases released each year are a result of deforestation. Mitigating
these agricultural risks and impacts hinges on sustainable harvesting practices and responsible
land use.

 Water Use

Like coal and nuclear plants, biomass plants may disrupt local water sources. Water use at a
biomass plant ranges between 20,000 and 50,000 gallons per megawatt-hour. This water is
released back into the source at a higher temperature, disrupting the local ecosystem. The
nutrient runoff from energy crops can also harm local water resources as well. And growing
energy crops in areas with low seasonal rainfall puts stress on the local water supply[3].

 Air Emissions

Despite being a relatively clean alternative to more harmful fossil fuels, biomass still generates
harmful toxins that can be released into the atmosphere as it's combusted. Emissions vary greatly
depending on the feedstock of the plant, but pollutants like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon
monoxide and particulate matter are common. Filters, cleaner biomass sources, gasification
systems and electrostatic precipitators can help the issue.

One major pollutant produced from burning biomass is also one of the most dangerous that is
particle pollution, also known as soot. These particles are so small that they can enter and lodge
deep in the lungs, triggering asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and even death. Burning
biomass also releases carbon monoxide, leading to headaches, nausea, dizziness, and in high
concentrations, premature death[3].

While these pollutants are harmful to us all, they pose even greater health risks for millions of
more vulnerable people such as infants and children, older adults, individuals with respiratory or
cardiovascular disease, and diabetics. Too often, power plants are located where lower income
communities live or work. Because of this, people in lower income communities are even more
vulnerable to these pollutants.

Figure3: PPM from biomass

Transporting waste from forestry and industry to a biomass plant also carries a significant carbon
footprint from the petroleum used by transportation. This release of greenhouse gases may be a
secondary environmental impact from biomass energy generation, but it's important.
 Figure 4: CO2 emissions from US power plants

 Land mass

One of the disadvantages of biomass energy is the amount of space that it requires. A great deal
of land and water are needed for some biomass crops to be produced and, when they have grown,
the product requires a large amount of storage room before being converted into energy. 

 Economic effect

Other disadvantage of biomass fuel production is that it is quite expensive, with costs including
paying for the large amount of labour involved and transportation costs as this type of energy
must be produced close to where the source is obtained.

5.0 Suggestions for use biomass in future:

Not all biomass energy solutions are created equal. There are some steps that can be taken to use
biomass efficiently in the future because of some threats it posses

 Some of the environmental downsides of bioenergy can be mitigated through more

sustainable forest management, and making careful choices about the type of biomass we
harvest for fuel and how we harvest it.
 Advancements in research and technology, along with policy development, can help
ensure that future investments in bioenergy are more environmentally friendly.

Fig5: Comparison with other sources of energy

 REFERENCES

[1]:https://www.need.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BiomassAtAGlance_11x17.pdf

[2]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444595614000103

[3] Biomass Energy in the World, Use of Biomass and Potential Trends