biomass advantages and disadvantages bbc bitesize

For the last couple of centuries, the world has heavily relied on fossil fuels such as coal and oil for industry, transport, and to power our homes. In particular, biofuels tend to generate methane, a greenhouse that is even worse for the climate than CO2. The main advantages of biomass energy are that it is renewable, reliable, abundant, and carbon-neutral. This reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills, which is better for the environment. 3. One of the advantages of biomass is the fact that it is renewable. Biofuels dont produce the same energy levels as refined fossil fuels. Along with carbon dioxide and methane, converting and using biomass into fuel can generate a range of polluting gasses, including: HAPs are a group of 187 toxins that have been closely linked to cancer as well as reproductive problems and birth defects. In some places, the rocks are hot, but no hot water or steam rises to the surface. There is no doubt that biomass energy is one of the few options for replacing fossil fuels. Geothermal power stations are located in places such as Iceland, California and Italy. Advantages Disadvantages ; It is more accurate as the organism's size is taken into account. That means the efforts to create biomass energy create a short-term gain economically while producing a long-term debt that future generations must manage. Using solar cells might have some drawbacks. Pros and cons of renewable energy resources, Advantages of non-renewable energy resources, Disadvantages of renewable energy resources, Will run out and produce dangerous waste that is hard to dispose of, Expensive to set up and wind does not always blow, Clean and cheap to run and Scotland has a lot of coastline, Clean and cheap to run and produce a lot of electricity once running, Very expensive to set up and could be hazardous to local wildlife, Expensive to set up and output could be affected by drought, Not always sunny and output does not always outweigh initial cost to set up, Applications of series and parallel circuits, Religious, moral and philosophical studies. Unless, of course, the wind turbine is paired with battery storage. While converting organic materials into higher-grade materials can be pretty intensive, there are cheap and relatively easy ways to harness biomass as a fuel, namely through combustion. If cash crops for energy production are worth more than what we produce for food, then more farmers will consider converting their fields. Biodiesel is less efficient than gasoline. Fossil Fuels. Just like fermentation used to produce alcoholic beverages, biomass can be exposed to yeast to convert its sugar content into ethanol. If you found it useful to learn about the advantages of biomass, take a look at what we have to say about other, cleaner forms of renewable energy, take a look at our guides to solar panels, solar farm land requirements, wind turbines, and hydroelectric power. For example, a bar representing 1 tree will be largest as it has more mass than primary consumers. All biomass originally gets its energy from the sun thanks to photosynthesis, biomass resources regrow in a relatively short timespan compared to fossil fuel resources that take hundreds of millions of years to replenish. Even though it takes time to renew the foundation of plant materials each year, our daily activities can supplement the materials needed to create the electricity or fuels we require to manage our responsibilities. Ecological relationships and energy flow (CCEA), The carbon cycle and decomposition (CCEA), Global warming, human activity and biodiversity (CCEA), The nitrogen cycle, minerals and eutrophication (CCEA), Home Economics: Food and Nutrition (CCEA). Not only do solar panels decrease your carbon footprint, they can eliminate your electric bill! Additionally, theyre much less efficient as carbon sinks than the forests they replace, so have a negative impact on the climate. Biodiesel is less efficient than gasoline. There is also some evidence that using ethanol can damage combustion engines over the long term. Plus, it helps reduce waste. Advantages of Biogas. It contributes to deforestation. Overall costs largely depend on the type of biomass and how its converted to electricity. These are referred to as pyramids because of their shape. That's preferable to using freshly grown crops as a source material, because it spares plants that could instead be used for food, at the same time as using up waste plastic. Food, yard, and compost waste are useful commodities, as is animal manure or even human sewage. When the U.S. government reviewed the environmental changes that happened when farmers converted from food-based corn crops to fuel-based alternatives, the emissions profile of this activity changes. Alternatively the students could design a poster advertising the fuel which they think is the most effective energy source. <br> <br>You can get input from investors. First, constructing biomass energy plants requires a significant upfront investment. One reason why biomass is so widely available is because the planet produces a lot of waste. If we wanted to use biomass to power homes, energy plants would need to be set up in urban centers for ease of energy use. Energy and Global Warming. Not only is this a form of renewable energy that can be used at home, but its also an affordable and accessible way for small-scale industry to access renewable energy. American farmers produce about 5 billion bushels each year that gets turned into this useful biofuel. The water runs through fractures in the rocks and is heated up. 1.4 4.A Good Alternative for Electricity and Cooking in Rural Areas and Developing Countries. BBC Bitesize Scotland article for upper primary 2nd Level Curriculum for Excellence. We can use biomass energy in several different ways. 2. The heat produces steam to power electricity generators. This makes them ideal for use in parallel to renewable energy plants: we can use them to supplement solar, wind, or hydroelectric power at times of low production or peak demand, yet another of the many advantages of biomass. When organic matter in landfills decomposes, it emits methaneone of the most potent greenhouse gasesas well as carbon dioxide and other compounds. A basic contributor to mercury emission is the combustion of coal. We can only produce biomass energy at a specific ratio because of the organic materials used to create it. The fuel efficiency rates of biofuels like ethanol are up to 33% less than when we use refined gasoline. Simply put, it involves burning organic matter to create energy. The heat produced can be the end goal, or it may be used to create steam to turn turbines to generate electricity. Even though biomass is more expensive than other renewables, it is still cheaper than fossil fuels. Is it better to lease or buy solar panels? Right now, biomass isnt the best renewable energy option out there, however, if technologies improve, biomass could become a major player in moving away from fossil fuels. Heavy feedstocks make up the bulk of todays biomass energy fuels. One of the most important disadvantages of solar cells is the relatively high installation cost of solar panels. Advantages and disadvantages of biomass power stations. When the particulate matter from organic combustion comes into play, then the environmental risks of a biomass facility become similar to those of coal-fired power plants. ethanol alcohols and carboxylic acids edexcel bbc bitesize Jul 11 2022 ethanol is the alcohol found in beer wine and other . And if it is not sunny, solar cells will not produce much electricity. Costs can vary widely from biomass energy plant to biomass energy plant, and in some cases, bioenergy has the potential to be cost-competitive with solar and wind. It can be a carbon-neutral option when we use sustainable methods to produce new crops, but the only way to guarantee this outcome is to implement global regulations. Return on investment. The heat produces steam to power electricity generators. When we create biomass energy through fast-growing natural resources that trap carbon emissions for food, then we can create a carbon neutral experience. Then, the cost of harvesting and transporting biomass materials needs to be considered. Being more affordable than fossil fuels gives biomass the edge. However, rather than using heat, in this process bacteria turn the organic material into biogas, a type of biofuel that is made up of methane, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gasses. Environmentally friendly. Almost 40% goes toward feed products intended for livestock and other animals, which leaves the remainder for the rest of us. Greenhouse gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are released. For example, a bar representing 1 tree will be largest as it has more mass than primary consumers. Its also important to note that biomass is not the only form of renewable energy. Several types of rock contain radioactive substances such as uranium. Many consider biomass energy to be in that latter category. This includes not only burning wood for heat, but also more sophisticated processes such as converting biomass to alcohol through fermentation and then burning this in a combustion engine. It can be an expensive and time-consuming process to generate resources that fit into this benefit, but these efforts are also a way to ensure our climate change activities start to reduce. Our tips from experts and exam survivors will help you through. The energy captured is then used for every kind of valuable work, including electricity generation, water desalination, and water pumping. New biomass energy installations are surprisingly expensive. Read about our approach to external linking. Even a product like biodiesel is 10% less efficient than the standard fuel that gets used by many in the shipping industry. Humans have used biomass as a form of energy since the earliest days of our evolution, when we started to burn wood for warmth and cooking purposes. Some fields can produce four crops of grass annually that is useful as an energy-producing option. Below, we'll explore these pros and cons in further detail: Biomass is an abundant resource: organic matter surrounds us, from forests and croplands to waste and landfills. Because these fossil fuels contribute to climate change, biogas actually reduces greenhouse gas emissions by . 6. These traits seen in polymers are due to the type of polymerization reaction, such as addition or condensation . Most renewable energy resources are clean, because they do not produce any pollution and cheap because their energy supplies do not have any cost. All It Produces More Energy When Burnt: If you compare oil to other fuel sources, oil has a better burn rate. 1. Polymer forms can be altered depending on their desired use. Although we have relied on fossil fuels to power our society for a long time, there are several disadvantages to the continued use of these types of outdated energy sources. 6. In fact, biomass has a lot of potential to be a reliable source of renewable energy to power our society. We must expend additional energy resources to transport biomass. Biomass briquettes are very hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. We also use agricultural crops and their waste items to burn as fuels or to create liquid biofuel. Add to this that clearing forests contributes to reduced rainfall, and bioenergy production on a large scale could not only cause local droughts, but also wide water issues, potentially on a global scale. 2. types of energy bbc bitesize - pokeriasi.ro However this is currently offset by the Renewable Heat Incentive. We are just as dependent on the forests as they are on us, so upsetting the balance causes harm when we fail to use a sustainable approach. To learn more about the different forms of renewable energy, take a look at this guide. The biomass (amount of living material) of organisms in each trophic level is measured and presented in a pyramid of biomass. 1.2 2.Utilization of Waste. As a carbon-neutral fuel source, it cancels out many of the climate change issues associated with fossil fuels, plus it has other advantages besides. September 12, 2019. Health issues can develop with widespread biomass use. We typically use wood and processing wastes from it to provide warmth to buildings, produce process heat for industrial purposes, or generate electricity. For one, depending on the type of biomass used to generate electricity, unsustainable bioenergy practices can result in deforestation over time. Predictable and consistent power. It keeps organic waste out of landfill, 4. Unless a country exists in a tropical climate, then this outcome isnt possible. Landfills have a number of negative impacts on the environment, including contamination of nearby air, soil and water, and the emission of greenhouse gases. When we use combustion to generate energy from biomass, then it releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 1. In this page, learn more top 7 pros and cons of cloning, and Diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels. Natural gas provides electricity for 75% less, while coal-fired power plants operate at a 50% cost reduction. Biomass, whether wood, plant, or animal material, can be sourced over and over again, making it a renewable resource. In order to trade, your company must start with at least 50,000 of nominal share capital with at least 25% of which is paid up. Biomass power plants are often dispatchable, meaning they can be activated or shut down in response to demand. 6. Due to the cars that are run by petrol and diesel, oil and its different products are used by the masses. A cheap source of energy: Fossil fuels are relatively cheap. We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through a link on this page. However, there is a growing argument, including within the European scientific community, that biomass is not, in fact, carbon neutral. 1.1 1.Renewable Source of Energy. That means we must use more of it to create the results we need, leading to higher emissions levels over time. In this article, well review just a few of the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass for electricity generation. Further harmful emissions are generated when using the biofuel. There are both pros and cons of utilizing biomass for energy. Therefore, biomass is not really a viable alternative to fossil fuels if we want to curb global warming. The government wants to build more nuclear power stations before 2030, but some people think they are . Growing crops to produce biomass typically involves heavy water usage. Most people in this situation use it for cooking and heating purposes, with household adoption rates as high as 89% in some African countries. Biomass pellets and wood chips are also burned locally to produce heat for a swimming pool. The most common biomass energy materials are plants, wood, and waste. . 3. The environmental and health consequences of bioenergy can be minimized through a number of efforts, including more sustainable land-use practices, re-planting efforts, and technological innovation. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Much of the waste we make is biodegradable, like food and plant waste. The water footprint of this renewable resource is much higher than it is for fossil fuels. With over 200 governments having different agendas to pursue, the reality of these benefits isnt always feasible. Producers have a higher value than the primary consumers; primary consumers have a higher value than the secondary consumers and so on. When we can transition more of societys energy needs to this renewable option, then our ability to extend other commodities helps to ensure that future generations have access to what they need. Since we can convert biomass energy into electricity and various fuels, the supplies we generate from this resource help to reduce fossil fuel dependencies. This produces a pure form of ethanol which can be used as a biofuel, most notably for cars and trucks. Here's the need-to-know stuff about the energy source, biomass! for fuel. Given that water shortages are predicted to be one of the planets biggest challenges in the 21st century and beyond thanks to climate change, this is an issue that we should take very seriously. Carbon Neutral. 1. Additionally, biomass is a more reliable source of energy than fossil fuels, especially as the latter are getting more and more scarce. Pyramids of biomass are used to overcome the problem of inverted pyramids of number. Furthermore, this point may be closer than you think: scientists predict that at our current rates of consumption, well run out of known reserves of oil by 2052, gas by 2060, and coal by 2090. Answer: Biomass continues to be an essential fuel in many countries, especially for cooking and heating in developing countries. It can burn directly or get converted into liquid fuels, biogas, and other products. Even using plants for biomass energy could increase the amount of fertilizers and pesticides being used and negatively impact the surrounding ecosystem. The waste products that come from biomass can sometimes get recycled to become something usable once again. This activity occurs in an unregulated manner, and it often happens without an effort at reforestation being made to replace the lost forests. The only advantage that biomass provides when looking at this specific disadvantage is the option to reduce accumulated waste levels. In comparison, while the availability of some biomass resources may be susceptible to seasonality, biomass energy plants can always turn on to provide power, regardless of the weather outside. the water flows on the surface of the soil to the . Furthermore, these materials can be very damaging to the natural environment, poisoning land and marine animals. However, many issues are holding it back from wider adoption, and hence we have discussed the advantages & disadvantages of biomass energy in this article. Well go over these concerns in more detail later. About 5% of the energy supply of the United States comes from this resource, which is why an evaluation of these biomass energy advantages and disadvantages is helpful. Advantages. If we can produce this resource sustainably, then we have an effective way to create fuel while promoting a healthier environment. The easiest way to produce biomass energy in the developing world is to cut down a tree. This article will discuss the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of biomass energy. Biomass energy creates environmental issues for us to manage. The way energy passes through an ecosystem is described as energy flow. Biogas is a renewable and clean source of energy, like solar and wind power, which can help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. also known as flood irrigation, this is the oldest method of irrigation known. Significant levels of trash go through a similar process in every developed country globally. Find out more . These plantations cannot replicate the diverse ecosystems they replace, displacing animals and leading to species extinction.

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biomass advantages and disadvantages bbc bitesize