Biomass for Electricity Generation
Jenna Brooks, Gabby Walker, Jonathan Horutz
Process (Jenna)
First you have to get biomass. Biomass is the largest renewable energy source in use today. It could be corn, wood, wheat etc. You would then burn the biomass to boil water. the boiled water would then create steam. As the steam goes up, it would begin to turn a turbine. When the turbine that is connected to a generator spins, it creates electricity. An electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy obtained from an external source into electrical energy as the output. It moves a magnet near a wire to create a steady flow of electrons.
Costs (Gabby)
To install a biomass power generator into your house, it's about $14000-$15000. With an average household requiring approximately tons of wood peliets per year. Biomass power generator would typically cost an estimated $15000 during it's first year. Average people are charged about 12 cents per kilowatt used.
Concerns for Environment (Jenna)
Biomass is carbon neutral. Carbon neutral is not good for the environment. Carbon neutral is when plants take in carbon dioxide (as they should normally). Biomass is basically made up of plants. So when you burn biomass for power, more carbon dioxide is given off, causing it be carbon neutral.