ABOUT BIOMASS ENERGY
We often talk about 'new' solar and 'old' solar energy. 'New' solar energy is the energy we get each day and 'old' solar is the energy that was locked up in the form of hydrocarbons many years ago. 'New' solar is renewable (daily) but old solar is nonrenewable. (at least not in our life times)
In between the 'new' and the 'old' is the 'almost new' solar energy that we can get from plants which have converted solar energy into biomass. The energy is renewable, but not every day. It is renewable in one or more years, depending on the life cycle of the plant.
If we compare biomass energy to 'new' solar, like wind and sunshine, it has some advantages. 'New' solar fluctuates and has to be used immediately or a means of storage has is needed. Biomass is solar energy already in a storage medium like, wood, grain or animal waste. This means we can use it at a rate and time that we choose more easily than direct solar and wind. This makes biomass a good complement to solar and wind.
To use biomass energy sustainably we must make sure that the biomass we use will be replenished at the rate at which we use it. For example reforesting has to keep up with the rate of consumption.
If combustion is used (and it usually is) to obtain energy from the biomass, efficient and clean burning methods should be used. CO2 is always a result of combustion, but it should be noted that the CO2 released is only equal to the CO2 that was consumed by the plant in the first place. And there is also the opportunity to sequester the CO2 for various uses.
