Final Project Renewable Energy System : Biomass Iberian Partnership for Technician Excellence, Summer 2012

Introduction What is Biomass? Biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms Most often plant matter

History Prior to the industrial revolution, biomass satisfied nearly all of man's energy demands Up until the 1860s, the United States used biomass for nearly 91% of all energy consumption 14% of the world still utilizes Biomass energy

System Types Many different biomass systems Most common residential application is direct combustion system Direct combustion systems include: Fireplaces Heating Stoves Air and Air Duct pellet stoves Water Boilers

Example System- FL Biomass Heating system 3 Bed/ 2 Bath 1 floor 610 m² / 2000 ft² 4 persons Location: Tampa, FL System Design Air duct circulation heating using a residential stove powered by pellets

Components Ducted Air Stove Ecoforest Suez 16kw Air duct stove Pellet Storage Ecoforest 300l Hopper w/ auger, 2m Automatic feeding Ecoforest Automatic feeding system (315W - 375W) Temp Control Automatic Wireless Thermostat Ventilation Motor Ecoforest 300 motor, 50W Hot Air Ducts Ecoforest ducts, 102mm, 10m Chimney Chimney Parts, ducting 80mm dia.

Heating System

System Cost

Efficiency Wood pellets have a heat conversion efficiency closer to fossil fuels and natural gas with much less emissions and pollution It is a cheaper energy with a more stable price Wood pellet heating units typically operate in 90% efficiency range

Cost Comparison Total Heating Electrical 50w/m² for 500m² annually (heating 4hrs/day- 4mos/year) = 12,000kwh/ year Cost of 0.05¢/kwh = $600/ year 0.19€/kwh = 2280€/ year (Spain) Cost of 0.07¢/kwh = $840/ year (Spain)

Example System- Northern U.S. Biomass energy is thriving in the Northeastern United States Most commonly utilized system is with a pellet or log boiler

Cooling with Biomass Rotartica Absorption Chiller Uses heat instead of electricity to cool air Currently prohibitivly expensive, but promising for the future of biomass cooling

Cooling with Biomass

Stirling Motors Stirling motor- A heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas at different temperature levels Converts heat to mechanical work

Why Biomass? ● Biomass is a renewable, low carbon fuel that is already widely available throughout the US and World. ● Its production and use brings additional social benefits, such as industrial and agricultural growth ● Correctly managed, biomass is a sustainable fuel that can deliver a significant reduction in net carbon emissions when compared with fossil fuels

Environmental Impact Biomass is a renewable energy with CO2 neutral cycle Reduced sulfur emissions and pollutants With proper harvest techniques and management biomass is environmentally sustainable Biomass energy use helps to: Reuse and recycle the maximum amount of waste and by-products Recover energy efficiently Promote self-sufficiency

Sustainable Harvesting

Opportunities Growth in the United States Currently the U.S. leads the world in biomass power capacity The North American wood pellet industry has become a major supplier to the EU This growing demand creates a unique market for exporting renewable resources

Opportunities Industry Growth New Biomass power plants being constructed and planned New manufacturers of stoves and boilers to cater to the growing US and EU markets More pellet manufacturing companies Job creation

Opportunities Agricultural Growth A unique niche for local farmers in rural areas Increased local energy production/ increased local energy efficiency

Conclusion Biomass is an efficient, sustainable energy source Now a cheaper source of Energy Properly managed, biomass energy can be indefinitely Encourages local power model Advancements will allow for even cheaper and wider applications in the future