Biomass Power By Zack Bekowies, Marion Berger, and Tori Chrumka

Uses & Functions Most is used for heating, cooking, and industrial processes Most is used for heating, cooking, and industrial processes Used indirectly to drive turbines and produce electricity Used indirectly to drive turbines and produce electricity Can be used as fuel for automobiles Can be used as fuel for automobiles Supplies about 30% of the energy used in developing countries Supplies about 30% of the energy used in developing countries

How it Works Harvesting of Harvesting of fast-growing plants fast-growing plants Collection of some crop residues Collection of some crop residues THE PROCESS THE PROCESS Solid biomass fuels are collected and either burned or converted into gases or liquids Solid biomass fuels are collected and either burned or converted into gases or liquids Biogas, ethanol, methanol, and gasohol Biogas, ethanol, methanol, and gasohol These alternative fuels can be burned to serve as substitutes for gasoline and the like with less carbon dioxide emission These alternative fuels can be burned to serve as substitutes for gasoline and the like with less carbon dioxide emission

Advantages Large Potential Supply Large Potential Supply Moderately costly Moderately costly No net increase of carbon dioxide if the biomass is harvested sustainably No net increase of carbon dioxide if the biomass is harvested sustainably Plantation can be located on semiarid land Plantation can be located on semiarid land Plantation can help restore degraded land Plantation can help restore degraded land

What current non-renewable energy source would this replace? Biofuel  fossil fuels, -natural gas, etc. Biofuel  fossil fuels, -natural gas, etc. Biopower  coal Biopower  coal Bioproducts  fossil fuels Bioproducts  fossil fuels

Case Study Case study: Biomass  biofuels (E-85) Case study: Biomass  biofuels (E-85) 85% ethanol, 15% gas 85% ethanol, 15% gas Flex-fuel Flex-fuel Pros: Cheaper Prices, Reduced taxes, government incentives, reduces petroleum use by 70%, only renewable fuel energy source, biodegradable Pros: Cheaper Prices, Reduced taxes, government incentives, reduces petroleum use by 70%, only renewable fuel energy source, biodegradable Cons: lower temps  add more gas, still emits regulated pollutants, lower mpg, 27% less energy/gallon, E-85 stations not widespread, “a leap sideways”, emit more greenhouse gases Cons: lower temps  add more gas, still emits regulated pollutants, lower mpg, 27% less energy/gallon, E-85 stations not widespread, “a leap sideways”, emit more greenhouse gases

Challenges in becoming Mainstream agricultural increases agricultural increases auto industry must re- vamp. auto industry must re- vamp. the world population is growing, so food production would have to increase the world population is growing, so food production would have to increase Issue of whether biomass is worth it Issue of whether biomass is worth it (

Will Biomass become Mainstream? U.S. is currently one of the leading users of biomass U.S. is currently one of the leading users of biomass Will not overtake fossil fuels as our lead energy producer anytime soon Will not overtake fossil fuels as our lead energy producer anytime soon But as fossil fuels run out, biomass power could become a leading producer of electricity in the United States But as fossil fuels run out, biomass power could become a leading producer of electricity in the United States Need more advanced technology in order to use the biomass more efficiently Need more advanced technology in order to use the biomass more efficiently

Specific Infrastructure in Michigan Need more bio-refineries in order to process enough biomass Need more bio-refineries in order to process enough biomass Already have 5 ethanol processing plants in Michigan Already have 5 ethanol processing plants in Michigan Electricity from biofuels can be hooked into already existing electrical systems Electricity from biofuels can be hooked into already existing electrical systems

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