Pros and Cons of Biomass energy.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy

While it is still a subject of many debates when it comes to talking about the advantages of biomass as it releases carbon during the burning process, biomass is one of the most commonly used alternative energy sources, especially in developing countries, because of its several advantages over fossils fuels. In this article, I have listed below the major advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy for a better understanding of this low-cost energy source.

Before I go to show the pros and cons of biomass energy let’s first look into what is biomass energy. 

What is biomass energy?

Biomass energy is a comparatively clean renewable energy produced from many types of naturally produced organic materials that come from plants and animals. Growing plants and trees for biomass use helps the environment, as plants use carbon dioxide to grow while producing and emitting oxygen into the air.

Some examples of organic biomass sources that produce biomass energy include forest residues (branches, dead trees, and tree stamps), dried vegetarians, crop residues, wood chips, yard clippings, manure, animal and human wastes, and much more. Biomass, besides using in solid form, can be converted into gaseous form through a gasification route.

One of the main advantages of biomass is that it is a low-cost renewable source of energy that can be re-grown over a relatively short period of time. Biomass energy is mostly sourced from plants which store energy from the sunlight through the process of Photosynthesis which gives plants the energy they need to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugars. With the advancements in technology biomass today can be used to provide a cleaner alternative to traditional energy sources based on fossil fuels.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy

Pros and cons of biomass energy have become an often discussed subject because of its potential to become a significant energy source of the future to help to address energy cost, energy security, and global warming concerns associated with fossil fuels.

Despite several advantages of biomass over fossil fuels the discussion on this clean energy source would remain incomplete without mentioning a few cons of biomass energy. I have, therefore, listed below the major advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy for a better understanding of this low cost relatively cleaner, and environment-friendly energy source.

Advantages of biomass

1. Biomass is a renewable source of energy. It is supposedly an inexhaustible fuel source as trees and plants are one of its major sources which can be replenished by planting new ones. Since biomass energy is derived from waste residues from living resources like plants, animals, and animal wastes, it has the potential to prolong the use of biomass energy as long as these living resources are available;

2. One of the major advantages of biomass is that it is carbon neutral. The carbon emitted to the atmosphere from biomass fuels is nothing but the amount that was absorbed by the plants during the photosynthesis process. When the used plant materials are replenished and the new ones spring up, they absorb an equal quantity of carbon from the atmosphere which results in neutrality that witnesses no new carbon generation. This process renders biomass uniquely clean as opposed to fossil-based sources of fuel such as oil, natural gas, and coal which emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributing to the greenhouse effect;

3. Biomass helps to reduce the levels of methane in the atmosphere (which is released due to the decomposition of organic matter). This is also among the most important advantages of biomass. Methane causes a greenhouse effect more than carbon dioxide and is thus, extremely harmful to the environment. By using organic wastes and converting them into an energy source before they release methane, biomass protects the atmosphere;

4. Environmental impact can be minimized if the processes of pyrolysis, fermentation, etc. are used instead of direct burning of the biomass sources like wood, dried cow dung cakes, etc. to produce energy;

5. Use of biomass energy can help mitigate climate change, reduce acid rain, prevent soil erosion and water pollution, minimize pressure on landfills, provide wildlife habitat, and help maintain forest health through better management;

6. Biomass is cheaper compared to fossil fuels. Producing biomass energy does not involve high upfront capital costs;

7. Employment generation in rural areas is also one of the key advantages of biomass;

8. Biomass energy reduces dependency on traditional electricity, particularly in rural areas;

Disadvantages of Biomass

1. One of the major cons of biomass energy is that biomass energy sources are inefficient as compared to fossil fuels;

2. Direct burning of forest biomass releases some particulate pollutants into the atmosphere;

3. A great deal of land and water are needed for some biomass crops to produce;

4. Biomass production and converting it to other fuels is quite expensive which is also one of the disadvantages of biomass;

However, we need to look into the issue in its entirety to see if biomass can be a good alternative to fossil fuels. Experts believe that there is a large variety of biomass resources that can be produced sustainably and with negligible harm.

Therefore, putting into practice proper policy is essential for gaining full advantages of biomass and avoiding the associated risks. Promoting the use of biomass energy beneficially would require a policy to guide industries to harvest the right kinds of biomass resources and for use of appropriate biomass conversion technologies and applications. Creating awareness about biomass advantages in proper perspective will build public trust that biomass can be a sustainable and useful climate solution and a source of low-cost clean energy.

Frequently asked questions

Now that I have explained the major advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy, before I conclude let me also address some of the related queries often made by people.

How does biomass help the environment?

The use of biomass provides several environmental benefits. Unlike fossil fuels, biomass fuel does not produce pollutants like sulfur which causes acid rain. Biomass is a sustainable fuel that can deliver a significant reduction in net carbon emissions when compared with fossil fuels. Growing plants and trees for biomass use helps the environment as plants draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to grow while producing and emitting oxygen into the air

Is biomass clean energy?

Biomass energy, which is mostly sourced from plants that re-grow in a relatively short time, is considered a clean renewable energy source. Its inherent energy comes from the sunlight through the process of Photosynthesis which gives plants the energy they need to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugars.

Is biomass good for the future?

Biomass which cannot be depleted like fossil fuels, due to its several benefits, is expected to be the best option for replacing fossil fuels as a source of renewable energy in the near future

You may also like to read this related post: How does biomass work to produce energy?

 Conclusion

Increased awareness about the advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy discussed in the post, would go a long way to help in better understanding this low cost relatively cleaner, and environmentally friendly energy source. Due to the several advantages of biomass listed in the post, it is expected to be the best option for replacing fossil fuels as a source of energy in near future.

Despite a few disadvantages of biomass, particularly due to its carbon emission during the burning process of forest biomass sources for use in energy production, biomass is considered one of the few potentially viable alternative natural energy sources. Because of the advantages of biomass energy like its low cost and employment generation potential, days may not be far-off when biomass would be the most important fuel for rural households as a source of heating particularly in their cooking and agriculture activities. To date, biomass fuel has been utilized so widely, that it accounts for almost 15% of the world’s total energy supply and as much as 35% of the rural supply in developing countries mostly for cooking and heating.