Bioenergy and biomass
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What is bioenergy?
Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy derived from biomass to generate electricity and heat or to produce liquid fuels for transport. Biomass is any organic matter of recently living plant or animal origin. It is available in many forms such as agricultural products, forestry products, and municipal and other waste.
Biofuels such as ethanol can be produced from sugar cane and other crops to replace some of the petrol we use as the energy for cars and trucks and other forms of transport. The ethanol is mixed with petrol. These things can also be used to make ethanol: corn, rice, potato skins, bark and even grass clippings. These plants can be grown again and again.
Another form of biofuel is biomass. It is material such as wood, garbage and waste from farms and farm animals' poo (manure) that we can change into energy. When biomass rots it produces methane gas. Methane gas can be used to make natural gas which is a common source of energy. The methane can be used to make electricity.
Problems with biofuels and biomas
Future Sparks - Biomass
What is Bioenergy?
Bioenergy
Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy derived from biomass to generate electricity and heat or to produce liquid fuels for transport. Biomass is any organic matter of recently living plant or animal origin. It is available in many forms such as agricultural products, forestry products, and municipal and other waste.
Biofuels such as ethanol can be produced from sugar cane and other crops to replace some of the petrol we use as the energy for cars and trucks and other forms of transport. The ethanol is mixed with petrol. These things can also be used to make ethanol: corn, rice, potato skins, bark and even grass clippings. These plants can be grown again and again.
Another form of biofuel is biomass. It is material such as wood, garbage and waste from farms and farm animals' poo (manure) that we can change into energy. When biomass rots it produces methane gas. Methane gas can be used to make natural gas which is a common source of energy. The methane can be used to make electricity.
Problems with biofuels and biomas
- Burning garbage and waste will cause air pollution and release green house gases.
- The land cleared for growing corn and sugar cane can reduce habitats and destroy ecosystems.
- The land used for growing biomass could be used to grow other crops for food.
- Growing biomass can use fertilisers and other chemicals that can cause water pollution.
Future Sparks - Biomass
What is Bioenergy?
Bioenergy
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