Biomass: What it is and how it works

BIOMASS

In a country like Italy, rich in agricultural, food, and marine resources, energy produced from biomass is a resource that must not be wasted. It is, in fact, materials of biological origin, waste, which can be produced through industrial processes. Clean and planet. 

WHAT ARE

In a planet where there is an urgent need to find solutions for to tear down the emissions CO2 in the atmosphere, the production of energy from renewable sources becomes the key to addressing this challenge. Theclean energy It is known in particular for the hydroelectric plants, PV and wind turbines which produce electricity through thewind powerYet, in recent decades, other renewable sources have also provided electricity to the country, but which ones? In Italy, in addition to the sun, wind, and water, natural resources known as biomass.

La biomass It is an organic compound produced from residues, waste, or plant and animal parts that, through treatment, are converted into fuel for energy use. This particular clean energy source allows for the generation of electricity. reducing CO2 emissions e reducing the use of fossil fuelsBiomass, moreover, is an organic substance, animal or vegetal, in a state prior to fossilization. This, in fact, allows for the extraction of energy in an environmentally sustainable manner. Biomass can therefore be defined as a true renewable resource and an biofuel.

Biomasses are divided into:

• Liquide
• Solid
• Sodas

And they can actively contribute to energy production. Furthermore, they can be converted into different forms depending on the physical characteristics of the renewable source.

ALSO READ: Renewable energy: In Germany, a municipality runs only on wind, solar, and biogas.

LIQUID BIOMASS

Le liquid biomass They are the product of a process that involves pressing, extracting, and refining organic matter. Biomass is therefore obtained from a process that converts the organic compound into a liquid. It can then be used for various purposes, such as the production of:

• Bioethanol, an alcoholic product from the fermentation of biomass
• Biodiesel, composed of animal waste and vegetable oils
• Vegetable oils

Liquid biomass is particularly useful for replacing some fuels so as to improve theenvironmental impactHowever, biomass requires time and a detailed plan to overcome the problem.

SOLID BIOMASS

Clean and renewable energy sources, the solid biomass They are organic matter processed and converted into solid biofuel. This type of biomass is typically generated from:

• Energy crops, such as firewood
• Forestry residues
• Agricultural waste, i.e. pruning, branches, foliage, various plants
• Zootechnical waste, deriving from livestock farming and organic sources
• Agro-industrial waste elements

La biomass energy production It is mainly exploited through the combustion of organic compoundsBut there are also other less used methods.

to obtain energy from biomass it is also possible to take advantage of a gasification processThis allows electricity to be generated by exploiting the amount of CO2 in gaseous form. Furthermore, the gaseous biomass They guarantee an increase in energy production of up to 10-15 percent more than the previous two.

BIOMASS IN ITALY

There are over six million Italians who use the biomass for theirs home heating systemsAnd bioenergy represents approximately 17 percent of energy production from renewable sources in Italy. A significant number, therefore. To which we can add another figure that concerns only solid biomass: throughout Italy there are 23 plants of this kind with a capacity exceeding 5 MW, and the entire sector employs 5 people. The sector is constantly expanding and the country could see further growth in the coming years.

At the same time, there is also a strong increase in woody biofuels which present evident economic and environmental benefits. The use of woody biomass In fact, thanks to small and medium-sized centralized systems, micro and mini cogeneration plants, district heating and process heat, as well as latest-generation stoves, it guarantees high performance, energy efficiency, and reduced emissions. Furthermore, these allow for greater savings on production costs compared to fossil fuels. For example, to produce 1 MWh Energy produced from woody biomass costs between 24 and 72 euros. Conversely, the same amount of energy produced from fossil fuels costs between 103 and 146 euros. Greater growth in the sector would therefore help Italy to reduce the rate of dependence on fossil fuels, but also to reduce supplies from other countries such as Russia.

ADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS

From an eco-sustainable point of view, the advantages of biomass They are different and fully fulfill their role. Generate renewable energy from biomass it allows to:

• Use waste organic matter to produce energy
• To produce clean energy through controlled combustion
• Take advantage of the photosynthesis andsun energy transferred to plants
• Resort to biomass plants close to the cultivation areas
• Reuse by-products or by-products as fertilizer
• Take advantage of affordable technologies and reduce energy production costs

This valid work However, it still needs to be perfected and it is not clear whether it could replace part of the energy production in Italy and around the world in the future.

DISADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS

Renewable energy derived from the exploitation of biomass has clear limitations. This alternative energy source needs one space considerable. In fact, to obtain a significant production of energy from biomass it would be essential take away space from agriculture and pastures limiting food production. This would not only cause a decline in the agri-food sector, but if done incorrectly, it would also negatively impact the environment and ecosystems. Therefore, a policy capable of balancing supply is needed.

HOW MUCH DOES A HOME BIOMASS SYSTEM COST?

Un domestic biomass system It could be a stove, a convector heater or a boiler powered by:

• pellet
• briquette
• wood
• wood chips

Yet, to be considered biofuel, the materials must have undergone a specific process. In fact, not all pellets and firewood meet the standards to be considered biofuel. This depends on a number of factors, including:

• Origin crops
• Organic compound processing
• Origin of the material

- domestic biomass systems Costs may vary depending on the type of heating used. Prices, including labor, can range between:

• 400 to 2.000 euros for heat generators
• 1.000 and 4.500 euros for convector heaters
• Over 4.000 euros for systems with radiant systems

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TO KNOW MORE:

• Don't waste land: it's a non-renewable resource
• Italy's clean energy target is 18 percent. But how do we get to the 32 percent target set for 2030?