Biomass

Biomass is derived from many types of waste organic matter, both animal and vegetable, such as crop stalks, tree thinning, wooden pallets, construction waste, chicken and pig waste, agricultural waste and lawn trimmings. It is used to produce power, heat & steam and fuel, through a number of different processes. We refer to biomass as a pale green source of electricity because it often involves a burning process. Burning produces emissions such as Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2), but in far less quantities than those emitted by coal plants.

Energy crops, such as willow and poplar, are used to generate power through a process called co-firing. This is often used to supplement an existing energy source such as coal. Conventional boiling is another process used to extract energy from biomass through the production of steam. Energy crops are now being grown especially for this purpose, but previously they were considered useless and left to rot on fallow land.

Gases can be extracted from solid waste and animal matter by composting them in an airless chamber. The biomass is broken down using natural bacteria, to produce methane gas, which is then fed through a turbine or coal power plant.

Liquid fuels to power engines such as diesel generators and cars are also obtained from solid biomass by combining alcohol with natural oils. Alcohol in the form of ethanol, is produced by fermenting biomass such as corn and then combined with oils extracted from animal fats and rape seed to make bio-diesel.

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