Biomass Energy
Did you know that poop can make power? It’s true. Gas rising from the poop of 500 cows can create enough electricity to power 100 homes. That’s some powerful poop!
Poop is a form of “biomass” which is the name for all living, or recently living materials coming from plants and animals that are a source of energy. The most common form of biomass energy on Earth is burning wood. We burn wood in fireplaces to keep us warm, or in woodstoves to cook our food. Besides wood and poop, biomass fuels can come from stalks of wheat, corn or sugar cane. It can also come from rice hulls, cooking oil, and other forms of garbage and food waste.
Biomass vs. Fossil Fuels
Biomass materials can be grown over and over again, so they are considered renewable resources. It takes them only months or years to grow and become fuel, unlike fossil fuels that take millions of years to become coal, oil, or gas. Biomass materials are also considered carbon neutral because they take carbon out of the air as they grown, but release about the same amount of carbon into the air when they are burned or used for energy.
Biomass and Biogas
Biogas energy is created from burning the gas that comes off animal poop and rotting plants. Rotting stuff gives off methane and carbon dioxide gases. When burned in an airtight container, these gases are collected in a process called gasification, and are used to produce energy. Biogas energy is used to heat water to create steam, which turns turbines, which generates electricity. The plant and animal waste that is left over is used as fertilizer for plants.
Keep Those Biomass Fires Burning
The best reasons for using biomass and biogas fuels are that they are sustainable; as long as people replant the fuel crops they harvest to create them. Also, plant and animal remains that were once considered waste and thrown in landfills are now being put to use as energy. The problem with biomass energy is that burning wood and garbage can still create air pollutants.
Humans have used biomass energy for thousands of years. Today, nearly one third of the planet still uses some form of biomass energy, proving it remains a long-lasting, inexpensive alternative energy choice.
