Biomass
By:Nataleigh Yarborough
What Is Biomass?
Biomass is a renewable energy source. It is carbon based and is made of organic material, such as plants and animals. It contains stored energy from the sun. Examples of biomass are wood, crops, animal manure, wood waste, (leftover wood from saw mills) leftover paper from paper mills, and paper and cardboard that cannot be recycled in any other way.
History of Biomass
Biomass has been used as an energy source since man discovered fire. It is much better than fossil fuels, for it is renewable and abundant. It got the name of "biomass" in the 1970's. It was in the 1970's that scientists actually became seriously interested in the possibility of replacing fossil fuels. In the 2000's the United States government developed a program to use biomass by using the co-fire method which was not successful.
Other Facts About Biomass
Many people still use wood as their main energy source. Sometimes people use cow manure as a biomass energy source! Biomass takes co2 out of the air while growing, and releases co2 while it is being burned! Did you know that biomass grows in months not years? It takes less energy to make. Once biomass is decomposed, it feeds the soil. It is grown/consumed indirectly from industrial or agricultural by- products, or directly from plants and animals. I think biomass has a huge potential as a renewable energy source! It might be able to return the atmosphere back to normal. It isn't even adding toxins in to the water, soil, or dirt!