Why is Biomass a sustainable biofuel?
Biomass for energy is most commonly used as a fuel for boilers that generate heat and power. The carbon used to construct biomass is absorbed from the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2) by plant life, using energy from the sun, making biomass a carbon neutral solid biofuel. This is highly preferable compared to fossil fuels that continuously add new carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
The biomass growth / combustion cycle maintains a closed carbon cycle with no net increase in atmospheric CO2 levels making it an excellent alternative to solid fossil fuels such as coal.
Biomass products come in many forms, although amongst the most common are the pelleted form shown here. Biomass pellets have many advantages over other forms of combustible plant materials.
- Pellets are dense so carry a lot of energy in a small volume
- Pelleting makes transportation and unloading much easier
- Pellets do not create much dust when being unloaded
- Pellets use us far less space compared with other forms of solid fuel
Correctly managed, biomass is a sustainable fuel that can offer a wide range of benefits:
- Biomass will be fully supported by the forthcoming Renewable Heat Incentive, a UK government scheme that will subsidise the use of renewable fuels for heat and power production, saving significant costs for biomass fuel users.
- Biomass is a “carbon lean” fuel producing a fraction of the Carbon emissions of fossil fuels.
- Biomass residues such as agricultural wastes not used for energy, or some other application will usually rot and decay. This will generate CO2 in any case, and may also produce methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent that CO2.
- Biomass fuels generate lower levels of atmospheric pollutants such as sulphur dioxide which contributes to 'acid rain'.
- Modern biomass combustion systems are highly sophisticated, offering combustion efficiency and emission levels comparable with the best fossil fuel boilers.
