1. Global Climate Change & Alternative Energy Research Project BIOMASS By: Sara Ruiz-Miner & Natalie Rodriguez

2. Introduction How is this energy created? The old way of converting biomass to energy was practiced for thousands of years, it is simply to burn it to produce heat. Where does it come from? Biomass comes from plant materials and animal waste.

3. Problem How do we capture/control this energy? The most common way to capture the energy from biomass was to burn it, to make heat, steam, and electricity.

4. Materials What technology do we currently use to make it work? Biomass fuels, also known as biofuels, may be solid, liquid, or gas and are derived from biomass feedstock. Biofuel technologies can efficently transform the energy in biomass into transportation, heating, and electricity generating fuels.

5. Data What are the start-up costs with using this form of energy? Data shows that between 2010 and 2030, global biomass and waste power generation could grow 62 to 270 gigawatts, with investments totaling between $21 billion and $35 billion. What are the recurring costs of this form of energy? Using conventional combustion technology without cogeneration, the estimate cost to generate electricity from biomass ranges from 5.2 to 6.7 cents per kilowatt- hour in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest Actual costs would vary depending on financing, location, system design and fuel cost.

6. Application How is this energy being used now? Biomass can be converted directly into heat by burning it. Many people around the world use wood or peat to heat their homes or for cooking. Also agricultural wastes such as corn stalks can be converted into a high energy fuel that can be added to gasoline for cars. Pg 464 in physical science book Is this energy being used in our area? Yes, the last question demonstrated its common/ modern use. Where is this energy being used now? In exactly 350 power plants worldwide.

7. Conclusion What are the benefits of this energy? -Economic It supports about 66,000 jobs in the U.S. In the future about 170,000 jobs. Can reduce dependency on out- of- state and foreign energy sources. -Environmental Benefits Biomass fuels “recycle” atmospheric carbon, minimizing global warming. Biomass combustion produces less ash than coal and reduces ash disposal cost and landfill space requirements. What are the drawbacks of this type of energy? Expensive, inefficient as compared to fossil fuels, harmful to the environment consumes more fuel and requires more land. Are there any concerns with this form of energy? If we use Biofuel, which is made out of crops/ the food we use it all to create the gasoline for cars, we would all be lead to starvation.

8. Resources www.ucsusa.com www.all-energy-solutions.com www.biomassmagazine.com

9. Biomass Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ- cIVJuDks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ- cIVJuDks