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U sing wood biomass for energy started since creation to provide heating under harsh winter conditions. Biomass energy is still used to provide cooking fuel, heat, and electricity to many communities, homes, and industries globally. Using wood biomass for energy can help mitigate global warming effects and improve water and air quality.
Using forest-related biomass for energy has become the subject of many international mandates, such as the International protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Also, the International Energy Agency has dedicated offices that research biomass energy potentials. Many international, governmental, academic and private institutions are developing fastgrowing woody crop species for a higher yield of biomass per unit acre. Efforts are also directed toward improving machinery that can handle dispersed wood biomass in an efficient manner.
Many scientists believe that trees sequester carbon, and therefore reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. However, when biomass is burned, this carbon is released again into the atmosphere. Therefore, by growing more trees, this emitted carbon is sequestered again. Growing trees for energy makes this source a renewable one.
The term biomass in forestry is used in conjunction with the production of energy from trees. Biomass is derived from plant photosynthesis, and is formed from the storage of solar energy in the form of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Biomass can be obtained as a direct outcome or as a joint production from forest operations. Usually, forest biomass energy is derived as a joint product from timber harvesting and management operations. In this case, the term normally refers to forest residue, such as treetops and branches. Nonmerchantable stems and dead, diseased, and downed trees are a source for forest biomass energy. Wood biomass also includes short-rotation woody crops, such as fast-growing hybrid poplars, willows, and eucalyptus plantations.
The world’s largest biomass power generation facility is the Alholmens plant in Pietarsaari, Finland. Finland has invested in improving biomass-handling technology, with the aim of having biomass energy, which is more cost and energy efficient. Countries such as Sweden and Brazil grow short-rotation, intensive cultures from willows and eucalyptus for energy.
One way to make forest biomass less expensive is to cofire it with other nonrenewable sources, such as coal. However, if wood biomass is burned alone, wood ash can return to soils as a nutrient that replaces the wood removed for energy. However, if wood is cofired with coal biomass, then it cannot be used as asoils nutrient. Other soil-fertilization options need to be considered to avoid soil nutrient depletion.
The ability to have a sustainable supply of biomass to generate heat and electricity is another concern attached to biomass harvesting. Unlike many other industries, the more biomass that is required for energy, the more expensive it becomes. This is because biomass procurers need to collect biomass material from longer distances. Therefore, more road construction, energy, and costs are involved. Growing dedicated plantations for energy can reduce these factors, since only one site is accessed for a significant number of years, with already-prepared roads for harvesting.
In addition, biomass energy industries offer job opportunities to local communities. Many research and development projects are underway to offer a cheaper, more energy and cost-efficient methods for biomass utilization and collection from forests.
Bibliography:
- Semida Silveira and Dr. Semida Silveira, eds., Bioenergy: Realizing the Potential (Elsevier Science & Technology Books, 2005);
- Taishichiro Sato and H. I. Madgwick, Forest Biomass (Springer-Verlag, 2002);
- OCED, Biomass and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2004).
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