Difference between revisions of "Biomass"
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When talked about as a part of the solution to Global Warming, Biomass refers to the conversion of organic material into fuel, which is known as biofuel. The material used in biomass ranges from plants and trees to organic waste from factories or municipal dumps. Biomass is known as a renewable fuel because it takes energy from easily renewable sources, such as plants and waste, though it does emit carbon into the atmosphere <Ref> Kimes, Laura. Biomass Conversion: Emerging Technologies, Feedstocks, and Products Washington D.C, U.S. environmental protection agency,2007.</Ref>. Fossil fuels are limited and destructive to the balance of carbon in the atmosphere because of their carbon cycle – the time it takes for new coal or oil to develop and ‘ingest’ the carbon that it emits when used as a fuel. The carbon cycle of this kind of energy takes incredibly long to complete – hence fossil – and therefore cannot be considered biomass. | When talked about as a part of the solution to Global Warming, Biomass refers to the conversion of organic material into fuel, which is known as biofuel. The material used in biomass ranges from plants and trees to organic waste from factories or municipal dumps. Biomass is known as a renewable fuel because it takes energy from easily renewable sources, such as plants and waste, though it does emit carbon into the atmosphere <Ref> Kimes, Laura. Biomass Conversion: Emerging Technologies, Feedstocks, and Products Washington D.C, U.S. environmental protection agency,2007.</Ref>. Fossil fuels are limited and destructive to the balance of carbon in the atmosphere because of their carbon cycle – the time it takes for new coal or oil to develop and ‘ingest’ the carbon that it emits when used as a fuel. The carbon cycle of this kind of energy takes incredibly long to complete – hence fossil – and therefore cannot be considered biomass. | ||
| − | In 2005, research from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, recently noted as a leader in the field of biomass | + | In 2005, research from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, recently noted as a leader in the field of biomass<Ref> BioEnergy Trade, Copernicus Institute: the Netherlands. Oct. 26th 2008, [http://bioenergytrade.org/t40members/0000009610121840e/copernicusinstitute/index.html]. <Ref/> concluded that approximately 10 percent of total energy used comes from biomass, “making biomass by far the most important renewable energy source used to date” (CITATION → Faaij). Because of its technological readiness, can become a viable and effective way to combat global warming, especially in the next few years. It does, however, come with certain obstacles. |
Revision as of 15:20, 29 October 2008
Overview
When talked about as a part of the solution to Global Warming, Biomass refers to the conversion of organic material into fuel, which is known as biofuel. The material used in biomass ranges from plants and trees to organic waste from factories or municipal dumps. Biomass is known as a renewable fuel because it takes energy from easily renewable sources, such as plants and waste, though it does emit carbon into the atmosphere [1]. Fossil fuels are limited and destructive to the balance of carbon in the atmosphere because of their carbon cycle – the time it takes for new coal or oil to develop and ‘ingest’ the carbon that it emits when used as a fuel. The carbon cycle of this kind of energy takes incredibly long to complete – hence fossil – and therefore cannot be considered biomass.
In 2005, research from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, recently noted as a leader in the field of biomassCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag.
- ↑ Kimes, Laura. Biomass Conversion: Emerging Technologies, Feedstocks, and Products Washington D.C, U.S. environmental protection agency,2007.
