Ethan Hodges and Lauren Laird Biomass Ethan Hodges and Lauren Laird

Biomass Biomass is a renewable energy material from the waste of dead organisms like gas, wood, and waste. The most common way to achieve energy from biomass is burning wood. Photosynthesis is when plants or other organisms turn light energy into chemical energy. Biomass contains stored energy because plants absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis.

History Biomass was discovered by the first environmentalist, or person to burn the waste of dead organisms. It has evolved by starting off as 90 percent of all energy, and is now about 4 percent of energy, due to being replaced by coal and natural gas.

Where do we get biomass? Biomass can be found in most places, but is most commonly found in the form of wood from trees. Biomass can be recovered in many ways like ethanol and alcohol based fuel made by distilling corn and other crops. Many people use biomass energy, most commonly for heating homes with wood, but maybe in the future ethanol may be used as a replacement fuel.

How is it stored and released? Once biomass is generated, it doesn't really need to be stored anywhere in particular, but it can be stored for later use. Biomass can be released in several ways. For example, burning wood and plants will cause heat.

How is biomass used today? Today biomass is used for burning wood, alcohol fuels, and landfill gas. Up to about the middle of the 1800’s wood gave Americans 90 percent of the energy used in the country. Biomass provides about 4.5 percent of the total energy we consume today. So, we used biomass a lot more in the past than today. Example of alcohol fuels: http://www.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-saving-devices/flex-fuel-vehicle.htm

Advantages of biomass Biomass is easily collected in the form of wood. It may turn into an alternative of natural gas. It is stored easily. Biomass doesn’t pollute as much as gas.

Disadvantages of biomass Although it doesn't pollute as much as gas, it still pollutes the air. It is harder to use than gas. Using fire can be a safety hazard. Sometimes, collecting it can be a problem on a mass scale.

Biomass in the future Biomass is renewable, therefore it can not run out and will still exist in the future. In around 30 years, biomass could possibly be used as an alternative for gas.

Resources Cleantechbiofuels.net Need.org Howstuffworks.com Epa.gov Eia.do.gov/kids