The Disadvantages Of Biomass

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Introduction: Biomass is an industry term for getting energy by burning wood, and other organic matter. Burning biomass releases carbon emissions, around a quarter higher than burning coal, but has been classed as a "renewable" energy source in the EU and UN legal frameworks, because plants can be regrown.[1] It has become popular among coal power stations, which switch from coal to biomass to comply with the law. Biomass most often refers to plants or plant-based materials that are not used for food or feed, and are specifically called lignocellulosic biomass.[2] As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly via combustion to produce heat, or indirectly after converting it to various forms of biofuel. Conversion of biomass to biofuel…show more content…
Biomass can be continuously produced as a renewable resource. Energy crops can filter runoff and reduce erosion, and biomass from agricultural wastes may be a secondary product that adds value to an agricultural crop. In addition, if waste materials are used, this can reduce landfill disposal volume and pollution. However, biomass fuels have disadvantages, such as the need to develop new harvesting methods and high costs of production. Some liquid fuels have a lower energy density than liquid petroleum fuels. Land used for energy crops may be in demand for other purposes, and agricultural wastes used for fuel will not be available if the basic crop is no longer grown. The total cost of production is an important factor in the ability of biomass fuels to compete with petroleum fuels. Fuel taxes and credits can help to make biomass fuels economically viable options. To determine the actual environmental benefits of these fuels, a life- cycle assessment of the associated energy use and emissions through all stages of production and use is

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