BIOMASS INDUSTRY

What is Biomass?

Biomass includes forest, sawmill and agricultural residue, and is an alternative to fossil fuel. When processed into pellets, the moisture content is lowered and biomass is rendered logistically and economically suitable for transportation and for use as fuel in power generation and steam production plants.

In 1992 global governments adopted the Climate Change policy and five years later they took a further step and adopted the landmark Kyoto Protocol. This legislation broke new ground with binding constraints on greenhouse gas that is emitted when fossil fuel is combusted to create power.

The European Union and the UK are the most proactive and have legally committed to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 8%, based on the 1990 emission figure by the year 2012 in accordance with the Protocol. One way of reducing emissions is to use an alternative type of fuel.

An alternative to fossil fuel is the utilization of sustainable fuels, which is the general term used for the application of biomass. Other forms of alternative energy include solar, wind and geothermal systems to generate power and heat.

Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is energy produced by combusting sustainable biomass materials such as wood and agricultural residues. The carbon dioxide emitted from burning biomass will not increase total atmospheric carbon dioxide if this consumption is done on a sustainable basis. Biomass energy is a suggested replacement for fossil fuel combustion.

Carbon Neutral

Counteracting release of carbon dioxide: relating to the maintenance of a balance between producing and using carbon, especially balancing carbon-dioxide emissions by activities such as growing plants to use as fuel or planting trees in urban areas to offset vehicle emissions.