In the energy sector, burning wood, plants, and other organic matter are referred to as “biomass energy.” Organic materials include things like manure.
Despite burning vegetation, manure, etc., releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, we class it as renewable energy. Because we can substitute it for plants or other organic materials, it is renewable energy. What is biomass energy used for? Here is a list of uses of biomass energy.
Biomass Energy
When we use biomass energy, we are using energy that originated from the Sun. In order to absorb the Sun’s energy, trees, and other plants engage in a process known as photosynthesis.s energy. For instance, when we burn wood, its chemical energy is released as heat.
When is it appropriate to either burn biomass directly or convert it into biogas or liquid biofuels?
With coal power plants, biomass has gained popularity. They replace the coal without destroying the existing infrastructure, machinery, or tools.
Uses Of Biomass Energy
Fuel
You probably add biofuels to your tank every time you fill up at the gas station. More than 98% of gasoline in the United States has some ethanol, a domestically produced, renewable fuel made from various plant materials. The world belongs to the United States.s No. 1 by volume producer of ethanol, in part due to large U.S. corn harvests.
To increase octane and reduce air pollution, ethanol is typically blended with gasoline. Increasing the supply of U.S. oil also helps to lessen our reliance on foreign oil, a boost to the economy and S. gasoline.
In 2019 alone, the production of more than 16 billion gallons of ethanol accounted for more than 68,600 direct jobs in the United States, with a $43 billion GDP and a $23 billion household income.
Additionally pushing the boundaries of biofuels is the aviation sector. BETO sponsored an award-winning research project that involved the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Skokie, Illinois-based LanzaTech are able to recycle industrial waste gas from steelmaking and other heavy processes and convert it to a ground-breaking type of jet fuel with drastically reduced levels of emissions.
On a cross-country flight from Florida’s Orlando International Airport to London, some of the Boeing 747’s petroleum-derived jet fuel was replaced by renewable jet fuel.s Gatwick International in October 2018. The project received awards from the Innovation Research Interchange in 2019 and the Federal Laboratory Consortium in 2020.
Cosmetics And Perfumes
Biobased feedstocks can be used to produce a range of personal care products, such as skin cream, shampoo, mascara, and more. For instance, the palmitic acid that gives your hair that glossy shine after conditioning is one of the most prevalent saturated fatty acids found in microorganisms and plants. Acetone, the chemical used to remove nail polish, can also be produced by fermenting plant sugars.
Biotechnology advancements are making the production of these products more affordable and effective, and public demand has rekindled industry interest in biobased cosmetics. In 2019, the global market for personal care ingredients reached $15 billion, with biobased materials making up about 20% of that total.
Food Additives And Nutritional Supplements
In large-scale oil producers, algae can produce up to 5,000 gallons of oil per acre. Algal oil can be used in many different ways, including the creation of renewable fuels. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are typically found in fish oils, are being directly extracted from algae by a number of nutritional supplement companies, for instance.
Some food flavors can also be linked to biomass as a source of origin. Lignin, an organic material that gives plants their robust structural support, can be transformed into renewable chemicals for the flavor industry. Spero Energy developed a process that sustainably breaks down woody biomass and converts lignin into chemicals that can be used to flavor smoky-tasting foods like barbecue chips.
Detergents And Cleaning Products
The effectiveness of detergents and cleaners lies in their capacity to eliminate undesirable material from surfaces. They owe two classes of chemicals their special quality: surfactants and solvents—both of which can be produced from biomass.
These biobased chemicals are found in laundry detergents, spray cleaners, and other cleaning products.
For instance, Sironix Renewables is engaged in the research and development of oleo-furan surfactants, a class of biobased surfactants that may improve the biodegradability of detergents while lessening their impact on wastewater treatment procedures.
Plastics And Other Materials
In contrast to conventional plastics, biobased plastics are produced from renewable plant-based materials and can offer the same variety and dependability. Some businesses have already begun incorporating these new materials into their product lines.
For example, BETO funded Virent Inc.’s BioForming technology to convert plant material into a synthetic substance that can be used to produce clothing fibers and containers for liquids.
Even waste reduction may be aided by biobased plastics. Certain businesses, including Mango Materials, are working to create biobased plastics that compost and degrade more quickly into their natural components.
Household Waste
People are required to sort their household waste in a lot of countries. Some of this waste can be burned to produce electricity in power plants. In landfills, we can also transform it into biogas.