Biomass Energy
Biomass is defined as organic material derived directly from plants. It is produced through photosynthesis, the process used by plants to convert the sun’s energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy can then be extracted from the biomass through combustion, to produce energy that can be used as heat or power.
In B.C., wood residue—material left over from forestry operations—is the most abundant and readily available source of biomass, and represents the largest opportunity for electricity generation.
Green biomass technologies involve controlled combustion of a renewable source of biomass. Pollution control equipment is used to capture the particulates, sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides that result from combustion. The carbon dioxide generated during combustion is consumed as new plants grow. As a result, provided there is a sustainable source of biomass created through replanting, the net contribution of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is zero and the process does not contribute to global warming.
In some places in B.C., where excess biomass such as wood residue is currently being incinerated, the advantages of controlled burning coupled with pollution control equipment would be even greater, as particulate emissions would be reduced approximately 100-fold. And, rather than the biomass energy being wasted, it would be used to produce electric power, with essentially no increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
Last Modified: May 12, 2009
