Importance, energy production, advantages and disadvantages of the biomass

Energy professionals around the world are now trying to produce the cleanest energy possible. Reducing carbon emissions, climate change, the use of renewable energy sources – these are very popular topics that influence the direction of the current energy sector. The most frequently mentioned are solar and wind power, but there are other renewables that are talked about a little less such as among other things, biomass.

What is biomass?

You’ve probably heard of biomass, but do you know what it actually stands for? It’s the oldest source of energy, and it’s gained and lost popularity over the centuries. Eventually, in the 20th century, people started using it again, much more, in an effort to reduce human impact on climate change. This term can cover any organic matter that is part of the nutrient cycle in the biosphere. Simply put, they’re the bodies of all organisms, whether they’re animals, plants, bacteria, fungi or cyanobacteria.

If we want to use biomass as an energy source, we can use it in almost any form, because the basic element is carbon and its chemical bonds that contain energy. However, they are most commonly referred to as plant biomass. They are able to use sunlight to photosynthesize carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich compounds called sugars.

How do we get energy from biomass?

Biomass is classified as a renewable energy source, but unlike solar or wind energy, it can be depleted. Unfortunately, biomass energy is not emission-free and combustion is the oldest method of biomass energy production. This thermochemical process releases CO2, water and heat. Unlike fossil fuels, biomass is CO2-neutral and only the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere is the amount captured during classical growth.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of using biomass include, for example, waste recovery, available combustion technologies, CO2 balancing, energy availability, the possibility of modifying the fuel and use in households. 

However, biomass also has its disadvantages, which are considered to include, for example, transport costs and certain types of adjustment, the need for storage space and in some cases the need for fuel adjustment and, last but not least, biomass is not emission-free.