Biomass Energy Opportunities in Rural Locations
Using biomass to generate heat or to drive steam engines is not new. But old-fashioned methods of burning wood, field residues, or waste were not environmentally friendly because they emitted polluting smoke and volatile organic compounds into the air. Today, scientists and engineers use improved processes to develop several new methods that cleanly and efficiently convert biomass to energy.
Many rural areas are growing and experiencing increasing energy demand. But building large baseload power plants is no longer desirable. Smaller facilities have fewer environmental impacts and can operate with locally produced biomass fuel. Using biomass delivers a triple benefit by keeping the wealth nearby, paying farmers to grow and harvest biomass feedstocks, and providing clean energy to fuel a rural renaissance. With clean energy, people in rural areas can be more productive, work near home, and enjoy a clean, higher quality of life.
In many cases, troublesome waste products from agricultural cultivation and processing can be effectively used as a low cost fuel for producing heat. On dairy farms and large feedlots, manure can be processed to make biomass fuel. Doing so reduces odour and potential pollution problems while adding a revenue source.
| MSc: Renewable Energy Systems and the Environment | © University of Strathclyde 2010 |