Biomass Energy is the organic matter, produced by plants or animals, used as sources of Energy. Most of the Biomass is burned directly for heating, cooling and industrial purposes.
Examples - Wood, crop residues, seeds, cattle dung, sewage, agricultural wastes, etc.,
1.Biofuels
Biofuels are the fuels, obtained by the fermentation of the biomass.
i) Ethanol :
Ethanol can be produced from the sugarcane. Its calorific value is less when compared to petrol, and produces much less heat than petrol.
ii)Methanol :
Methanol can be easily obtained from ethanol or sugar-containing plants. Its calorific value is also too low when compared to gasoline and diesel.
iii)Gasohol :
Gasohol is the mixture of ethanol + gasoline. In India trial is being carried out to use Gasohol in cars and buses.
2.Hydrogen Fuel
Hydrogen can be produced by thermal dissociation or photolysis or electrolysis of water. It posses high calorific value. It is non-polluting, because the combustion product is water.
2H2 + O2 ------------------> 2H2O + 150 KJ
Disadvantages of hydrogen fuel :
1.Hydrogen is highly inflammable and explosive in nature.
2.Safe handling is required.
3.It is difficult to store and transport.
Significance Of Bio-Energy :
1. The cost of obtaining bio-energy through bio-gas plant is less than the cost of obtaining energy from fossil fuels.
2.Biomass consumes more CO2 than is released during combustion of biomass.
3.It provides a stored form of energy and in many cases in a form suitable for vehicle propulsion.
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