2. Renewable Energy Sources: Biomass and Biogas

3. What is BIOMASS? Organic matter produced by photosynthetic producers Total dry weight of all living organisms at each trophic level in a food web

5. METHODS OF USING BIOMASS ENERGY Method #1 –Burning Biomass to create heat Method #2 –Gaseous Biofuels –Liquid Biofuels

7. Method #1 - Burning Dung, Reeds, Wood, Trash Biomass must not be removed faster than can be replaced Developing countries Burning takes nutrients from fields Cow Pie Anyone?

8. More Dung Dung Beetle

11. METHOD #2 Convert solid biomass into gas and liquid biofuels Ethanol –distilled and fermented grains Methanol –prod. from sewage sludge, wood, agricultural wastes, garbage & coal

12. Grain stocks (corn) can be fermented by bacteria (yeast) which can then be burned as fuel Cons: pesticides, fertilizers, CO2 emissions, land could be used for food! Ethanol = Ethyl Alcohol

14. Traditional Ethanol vs New Algae Traditional: corn fermentation New: algae make ethanol. Same process  use algae instead of corn to ferment by yeast. Algae can be farmed and harvested in smaller facilities. Algae: Sargassum, Glacilaria

17. Biogas - Landfills Fieldtrip to a Conn. Methane Recovery Plant Uses local solid waste for biogas

18. Old Landfill Mound “ Capped” landfill mound Methane bubble trapped beneath

19. Gas Extraction Wells Wells are on top of mounds Collect methane/ other biogases Gas pressure constantly checked

20. Gas Compressor Concentrates methane

21. Turbine for Electricity Gas mixture burned Generates steam; turns turbine

22. PROS - BIOMASS A renewable resource if managed CO 2 levels have no net increase Makes use of agric. or timber wastes. Much biomass supply

23. Disadvantages of Biomass Use plantations to grow wood  use pesticides, fertilizers which pollutes drinking water. Soil erosion  sedimentation Little nutrients go back in soil. Loss of habitat for orgs.

24. Air Pollutants Wood smoke contains PM and HCs –ex bronchitis, emphysema, cancer –820 estimated deaths per yr

25. ETHANOL PROS High octane Emission reduction of carbon dioxide Reduction of CO Potentially renewable CONS Negative net energy Larger fuel tank need High cost Competition 4 land Smog formation Corrosive Hard to start in cold

26. METHANOL PROS High octane Emission reduction of carbon dioxide Reduction of total air pollution 30%- 40% CONS Large fuel tank need Corrosive on metal, rubber & plastic Increased emissions of formaldehyde Hard to start in cold High cost Created by coal = high CO 2 emissions