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What is 'Biomass'
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Organic matter including trees, agricultural
energy crops, crop & timber wastes, aquatic plants, animal
wastes, household, municipal & industrial wastes
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Bio-Power US
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There's 10 gigawatts installed Biopower electricity
generation capacity in the US, where Bioenergy accounts for
3% of primary energy production
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'Biomass' is organic matter and it can be used to
produce 'bioenergy' - Sources of suitable
biomass include:
Fast-growing Energy crops / Agricultural & Forestry
Waste / Organic Municipal & Industrial Waste
Biomass can be burned 'as is' or converted into
gas or liquid fuel
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Burned 'as is'
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Biomass can be burned to produce energy. In
timber & paper industries, wood waste is sometimes burnt
to produce energy for the manufacturing process or to heat
the buildings. Some coal-fired power plants use biomass as
a supplementary energy source to reduce emissions.
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Gas - Hydrogen &
Methane
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High temperatures are used to convert biomass
into gas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, & methane)
The gas fuels a turbine that turns an electric generator.
Biomass decay fernentation also produces methane gas that
can be burned to produce heat or power
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Biodiesel
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Biodiesel is an ester, made using vegetable
& animal fats, even recycled cooking oil, or algae . Can
be used as diesel additive reducing vehicle emissions or in
pure form to fuel vehicles. Heat can chemically convert biomass
into oil
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Ethanol & Methanol
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an alcohol, is made by fermenting any biomass
high in carbohydrates through a process similar to brewing
beer. It is mostly used as a fuel additive to cut down a
vehicle's carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions.
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Biobased Products
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Renewable biodegradable products eg: green
chemicals, renewable plastics & natural materials can
replace many now derived from petrochemicals
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