By: Andrew Ferguson

 Biomass- a renewable energy source, that is made up of biological matter from living, or recently living organisms. Mostly comes from materials such as such as garbage, wood, waste, landfill gases, and alcohol fuels.  Biomass is commonly plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce heat and can be used in the production of fibers or chemicals.  Biomass may also be biodegradable waste that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic materials such as fossil fuels which have been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum.

 There are 3 conversion methods to convert the biological matter into renewable fuel.  The first method is Thermal Conversion: thermal conversion is when heat is the dominant mechanism to convert the biomass into another chemical form.  The second method is through a process called Chemical Conversion: chemical conversion may be used to covert biomass into other forms, such as to produce a fuel that is more conveniently used, transported or stored, or to exploit some property of the process itself.  The third method is Biochemical Conversion: A microbial electrolysis cell can be used to directly make hydrogen gas from plant matter. This process makes use of enzymes of bacteria and other micro-organisms to break down biomass. In most cases micro-organisms are used to perform the conversion process by fermentation and composting.

Cons-Some of the gases like carbon-dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are emitted into the atmosphere during biomass production which may damage the ozone layer and may contribute to global warming. The process of extraction of biomass is very expensive. The accumulation, harvesting and storage of raw biomass materials is quite expensive compared to that of fossil fuels. The set up of a biomass power plant requires huge space and the recycling of wastes requires a large amount of water. Pros-Biomass energy is an inexhaustible and renewable energy source. The products obtained are biogas and biofuel. Heat and electricity are generated during biomass energy production. There is plethora of organic waste and agricultural waste generated everyday. Biomass is produced from these wastes, which makes biomass an easily available resource.