Biomass energy is a renewable source of energy and is easily available from the waste remains of the flora and fauna.
Biomass has plenty of uses and benefits and can obtain a huge amount of energy for various purposes. Let us discuss some of the biomass energy examples as listed below:-
Biogas
It is a renewable source produced from the organic remnant of plants and animals.
The bacteria digest the waste organic matter in absence of oxygen in the digesters. It is a green source of energy and produces heat energy and electricity.
Photosynthesis
It is a process through which plant produces food and supplies oxygen to the atmosphere. The radiant energy received from the Sun is converted into chemical energy and stores in the form of food. The food thus produced by the plant is rich in chemical potential energy, minerals, and vitamin, essential for humans and animals.
Food
The food that we eat provides us with the chemical potential energy which is stored in the form of chemicals. This chemical potential is released as required during the activities. The chemical bonds break and the energy thus released is utilized by us while performing any task and daily activities.
Agriculture
Agriculture provides us with a variety of food grains to boost our energy and grass to the herbivorous animals.
The waste remains from agriculture can be used to produce manure which can improve the productivity of the crops and can also be used in the production of biogas.
Mushroom Plantation
The mushrooms are a rich source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants. There are different ways of plantation of varieties of mushrooms. Some use dry paddy straws whereas some required rich fertile soil with manure made out of flora.
Leguminous Plant
These are the nitrogen-fixing plant because the bacteria present on the roots of these plants inhale nitrogen gas thus increasing the nitrogen quantity essential for the growth of these plants. These bacteria present at the roots of leguminous plants are namely rhizobium. Some examples of leguminous plants include beans, clover, peas, peanuts, soybeans, etc.
Charcoal
The charcoal is produced upon burning the wood before it turns into ash.
This charcoal is a good cleanser and is used in some facial creams and toothpaste. In the olden days, charcoal was used to clean teeth.
Bio-methane
It is released during the decomposition process of organic matter. When the organic waste is exposed to the sunlight, the heat energy supplied to the matter breaks the chemical bond and for decomposition to take place. The breakdown of the substance releases bio-methane which is used for the production of electricity, supply heat energy, and as a fuel for the vehicle.
Seashells
The seashells are made up of calcium carbonate. These shells are dried and crushed into powder and used in many manufacturing industries.
This is used to make chalk, paints, building material, ceramic tiles, etc. It is also used in medicine as an antacid to get relief from heartburn, and acidity.
Wood as Fuel
Wood is used as a fuel in many industries and factories to generate heat and steam to drive the turbine and produce electrical energy and power. The plants utilized carbon dioxide from the air to produce their own food, and this is released back into the air when burnt.
Fossil Fuel
Fossil fuel is extracted from the deeply buried matter by the method of drilling or mining.
The coal is removed by the mining while crude oil can be extracted by drilling. Natural gas is also present around the crude oil deposition.
Coal
It is produced by the organic matter trapped beneath the ground for millions of years. Organic matter is mostly composed of substances made up of carbon bonding structure and hence as it remains buried under the ground for several years, the only element that remains is carbon and hence the coal is entirely made up of carbon. This is used as a fuel in industries and trains.
Liquid Petroleum Gas
It is used as a cooking fuel in the LPG cylinder. This gas is in the liquid form in the cylinder which is converted back into the gaseous form and escapes from the burner on removing the pressure by turning ON the knob.
This is a biofuel because it is formed by the organic matter trapped under the great pressure and heat beneath the landmass.
Compressed Natural Gas
Compressed natural gas is made up of petrol which is partly composed of methane. It is stored in the container maintaining a pressure range between 20-25 MPa. Petrol is extracted from the Earth through the process called drilling. This is used to fuel the vehicles and emits low carbon dioxide in the air.
Grass
The paddy grass and shrubs produce in the field are rich in starch. The cows can digest a more quantity of starch edibles. Hence the agricultural remnant is used as food for the herbivorous animal. This grass is dried and stored for the food of animals.
Cow Dung
Cow dung is a waste produced by the cows. It is used as manure and also to increase the fertility of the soil.
It is a renewable source of biomass and is converted into energy by feeding it into the digester in a biogas plant.
Manure
Manures are good to grow vegetables and in paddy fields. It is prepared from the organic waste of flora and fauna. The thick layer of sand is initially made on the bottom layer in a container and above it, alternate layers of waste and soil are set and the earthworms are released on the top of the mixture. The earthworms mix the components properly and the manure becomes ready within 3-4 months.
Sewage Water
The sewage water has a good concentration of nitrogen and phosphates and hence is used for irrigation and also in the aquaculture.
The organic matter and nutrients present in the sewage water fertilize the soil and can yield better production.
Alcohol
The alcohol is produced from different fruits and herbs. It is composed of hydrogen and oxygen atom bonded with a single carbon and it is also volatile and can easily convert into the gaseous form thus catching fire easily. Hence alcohol can be used to light the fire.
Coconut Shells
The remnant of the crushed coconut shells is used as a fuel to gain heat energy. The dry coconut shells are also used to design art crafts and decorative pieces. These are also used to produce biogas and to make manure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by biomass?
It is the organic matter which can be transformed to produce some sort of energy.
Biomass is a product of organic material and the waste remains from flora and fauna which can be used as a fuel to generate heat and electricity and transform the energy from one form to another.
What are the different sources of biomass?
Biomass is the matter produced by the living organism.
The main sources of biomass are agriculture, forest, animals, human beings, green waste, sewage, industrial waste, sea organisms, etc.
What is the process to obtain a biofuel?
The fuel produced by using organic matter is called biofuel and is completely a green fuel.
The biofuel is produced by the combustion of organic remains in anaerobic decomposition and the electrical energy is directly produced during this process. This is available in liquid as well as the gaseous form.
How biomass energy is beneficial?
It is a renewable source of energy generated by organic matter.
Biomass energy is a green source of energy and can reduce a large amount of harmful emissions of gases into the atmosphere, thus protecting the environment and its sustainability.
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Hi, I’m Akshita Mapari. I have done M.Sc. in Physics. I have worked on projects like Numerical modeling of winds and waves during cyclone, Physics of toys and mechanized thrill machines in amusement park based on Classical Mechanics. I have pursued a course on Arduino and have accomplished some mini projects on Arduino UNO. I always like to explore new zones in the field of science. I personally believe that learning is more enthusiastic when learnt with creativity. Apart from this, I like to read, travel, strumming on guitar, identifying rocks and strata, photography and playing chess.