What are the advantages of biomass?

• The conversion of plant and animal materials (biomass) into electricity does not contribute to global warming, or the greenhouse effect. This is because the amount of carbon dioxide released by the biomass (when it is converted into energy) is the same as the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the biomass material during its growth.
  
  
• Biomass fuels have negligible sulphur content and therefore do not contribute to sulphur dioxide emissions which cause acid rain.
  
  
• The combustion of biomass generally produces less ash than coal combustion. Unlike coal ash, the “biomass ash” can be used as a soil additive on farm land to recycle material such as phosphorous and potassium.
  
  
• The use of agricultural and forestry residues and other waste materials for energy production is helping to reduce the significant problem of waste disposal.
  
  
• Biomass is a domestic resource which is not subject to world price fluctuations. In developing countries, the use of liquid biofuels, such as ethanol, reduces the economic pressures of importing petroleum products.
  
  
• The growth of perennial “energy crops” (such as grasses and trees that are processed for energy use) has a lower environmental impact than conventional agricultural crops.

^ back to top ^