What is Biomass?
Biomass is residue of living plant material. It is frequently material with cellulose available on a recurring basis. Simple examples include crop residue or wood materials. Biomass would include any organic matter including trees, plants and related residues, plant fiber, animal waste, industrial waste, and the paper component of municipal solid waste...
Scientifically, cellulose is defined as a polymer, or chain of 6-carbon sugars. Lignin is the substance, or "glue" that holds the cellulose chain together.
How Can Biomass Be Utilized?
Most commonly, biomass can be used as a fuel for combustion. The heat may be used to generate steam, which may be used to meet heating needs or run turbines to generate electricity. In North Dakota, research at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at UND has been completed on the possibility of co-firing using biomass fuel with traditional fuel sources such as lignite.
Why Bioenergy?
Bio-energy provides economic, environmental, and security benefits. The use of renewable biomass energy creates additional value in agriculture, forestry, and other industries. In the process it reduces waste streams. Significant savings are attributable to reducing landfill expenses by alternatively disposing of volume waste.
Outside of energy concerns, the utilization of biomass for bioenergy also reduces emissions of greenhouse gasses and other pollutants by reducing fossil fuel use. By drawing on more diverse domestic energy sources, we ensure reliability, since bioenergy can reduce dependence on imported energy. This ensures a greater level of energy security.
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