Biomass Energy- Its Impact, Advantages and Disadvantages

Renewable energy is a type of clean energy that we attain from natural resources or sources that don’t run out. The energy supplied is constant and does not run out. It is a highly sustainable form of energy. Examples of this form of energy include natural resources (like sunlight, wind, and biomass energy,) and also from other sources like nuclear reactions as well.

So here the question really arises as to whether biomass energy is truly renewable?

To find this out we first need to understand what biomass energy truly is. Biomass energy is a type of energy that is attained from organic matters such as garbage, wood crop waste, and other such items. There are many ways in which energy can be derived from biomass from processes like burning wood which provides fire and heat energy or turning feedstocks to liquid biofuels. There are millions of tons of garbage waste produced across the world each day of which includes organic waste with others being plastic and other solid wastes. It is said that by the year 2030 biomass can help in significantly contributing to petroleum products across the world. Biomass can be said to be a renewable energy source because its inherent energy comes from the sun and is capable of growing back again in a very short period of time. If at all there is any source of energy that keeps growing rather than depleting, then it is the energy that is produced from waste and especially organic waste. Waste keeps generating in an increasing pace as consumers across the world are going up rather than decreasing.

The main advantages of this form of energy are:

• It is a good replacement for the energy we take from fossil fuels which is now fast diminishing.
• It is low on carbon emission compared to many other energy sources.
• It’s a widely and easily available source of energy as organic waste is present all across the world.
• It helps us utilize waste effectively thereby reducing the accumulation of garbage which is to be disposed of.

The main disadvantage of this form of energy is that it’s not as efficient as fossil fuels and though it is low on carbon emission it accumulates a lot of methane gas. It is also reliant on wood which is a cause of deforestation.

In short, the advantages weigh more and if we can find an alternative for the consumption of wood it can be an effective renewable energy source.

Image credit: biomass-energy.org