By Farzin Espahani
Biomass fuel is an interesting and promising alternative to conventional fuels, particularly since convincing evidence of the damage caused by fossil fuels has mounted. A revolution in terms of energy sources is inevitable – the only question is what the new source will be. Wind and solar energy are increasingly popular, but time may tell whether biomass fuel becomes the preferred energy resource of the future. The term biomass simply refers to fuel sources that are biological. The most commonly harvested biomass fuel sources are wood material and animal feces. A huge bonus of this resource is that it already exists in huge quantities, and using them for energy helps prevent environmental damage caused by their improper disposal.
Biomass Fuels
Biomass is a renewable source of energy that comes in solid, biogas, and liquid form and can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere. The benefits of biomass fuels are both economic and environmental. Economically, geopolitical conflict over increasingly scarce and dwindling fossil fuel reserves could be avoided, energy stores could fuel new business growth, and tons of new desperately needed jobs could be created in areas devastated by the shrinking fossil fuel industry such as the Midwest rust belt. Environmentally, many reputable scientists estimate that the human race has a little over a decade to make dramatic energy consumption shifts or else risk damaging the planet irreparably.
Cost
Interestingly, biomass fuel is more cost-effective than fossil fuels. One key difference between the two is the amount of time and energy involved in the extraction process. Drilling, refining, and transporting fossil fuels, often across continents and oceans, represents a huge inefficiency that biomass fuel does not have. AS the market continues to develop, with new entrepreneurs investing in biomass and new customers interested in the technology, the cost-effectiveness of biomass fuels compared to fossil fuels will likely skyrocket.
New Opportunities for Farmers
Many farmers are already producing biomass energy by growing corn to make ethanol. Soil quality varies heavily from region to region. Unfortunately, some poor quality soils only grow a limited number of crops well. However, biomass farming can go far beyond that. In these areas, growing plants specifically for use as biomass fuels could represent exciting new opportunities for growth in these areas which otherwise struggle economically. Rural communities could even become entirely independent, energetically speaking. Furthermore, growing high-biomass crops such as native trees and grasses will renew and enrich the soil, making infertile areas fertile again.
If you are interested in biomass energy, consider getting involved. The market is still untapped in many places, so this could be a chance to really help with something meaningful while also potentially benefiting financially.
Keep reading: Reduce, Reuse, and Renew: The Power of Using Renewable Resources for Energy
