Biomass

Biomass was the very first renewable resource to be used by man. It consists of using energy from wood, plants, and many forms of waste. Plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere for cellular respiration.  Plants then “exhale” oxygen (O₂) into the air while Carbon (C) located in the trees is released when used in the power plant.  After this C is burned, it releases once again to the atmosphere to combine with O₂ to produce CO₂, as this cycle repeats. This is a very reliable and efficient source as it has been used for many centuries and it is still in effect nowadays. 

Solar panels: photo by ganso.org on Flickr

Biomass is one of the most efficient and least harmful energies to the environment mainly due to its low carbon emissions. So biomass might seem to everyone as a perfect choice, but no, not for everyone—not for people who live where plants and trees are scarce, for example. Yet, it is responsible for 15% of the world’s total energy supply due to its low cost and efficiency.  This resource could be found in Alberta due to the presence of many plants and trees; these places include regions like Banff.  Many countries use biomass such as Canada, USA, Sweden, and Austria where plants are found in abundance.  On the other hand, we would not find plenty of trees at places such as Iceland and the Arctic. 

The biggest conflict to this resource is finding a local feed stock to reduce transportation costs in order to decrease CO₂ emissions and also decrease the amount of money being spent, since the greater the distance between the manufacturer and the destination, the greater the cost.

There are dangers of using biomass since it involves using plants and trees—which are living things themselves—to generate power and electricity.  By getting rid of those natural resources, you are destroying the habitats of many animals as well as decreasing oxygen emission which is essential for the lives’ of human beings.  These impacts could be reduced by using trees and plants that are nearing the end of their roles instead of using those that are fresh and beginning to blossom.

Click here for a list of some benefits of biomass.