How Is Biomass Energy Used to Generate Electricity?

Is biomass renewable? Of course, biomass is the trusted and reliable renewable energy source in the world. It is the best and most reliable energy source and can be used as a substitute for coal energy. Coal energy produces massive smoke and fumes that pollute the environment and release carbon dioxide as well. Therefore, biomass is free from such dangerous things. Alright, everything is fine but how is biomass energy used to generate electricity? Biomass is a thermal energy that generates electricity through some special processes such as digestion, direct combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification.  

Its electricity generation combustion process is like coal power station operations or thermal power plants. Indeed, heat and steam are generated in the biomass power station that directly spread on the steam turbine with a very high pressure. In that case, the steam turbine starts rotating and the generator is also coupled with the turbine shaft. Whenever the turbine rotates the generator rotor also rotates and EMF is induced in the generator armature core and we get electrical energy to the generator output.

There are three main essential ways that can convert biomass into a source of energy. In which three ways can we use biomass as a source of energy? Burning materials, bacterial decay, and conversion from biomass into a gas. However, we face different types of questions in real life such as what is biomass energy, Is biomass energy expensive? Can it be used to generate electricity? How expensive is biomass energy? And many more. So, let’s find the answer with details.

What Is Biomass Energy in the World?

Biomass is an organic material obtained from natural plants and animals’ excrement or dung. Biomass is also known as bioenergy, biofuel, or fossil fuels. It is available in nature people can make plants to get wood and animal breeding to obtain animal excrement for energy generation.

It is considered the sustainable energy solution in the modern world. How can it be used as a renewable source of energy? Biomass can be used as a renewable energy source in three main ways such as burning, bacterial decay, and gasifier conversion to convert it into a gas or liquid fuel.

how-is-biomass-energy-used-to-generate-electricity

However, it can also contribute to the national grid and off-grid load demand projects as well. Although a low amount of energy is generated from biofuel or bioenergy it can be the future leading renewable energy source.            

What is a Biomass Gasifier Power System?

We know that electrical energy can be generated in many ways from biomass. A biomass gasifier is one of them. Biomass gasifier is one of the best and smartest electricity generation processes. Its working process is simple and works like other thermal power plants. First of all, biomass is collected from nature and sent in a container or chamber.

These fossils are burned and gas is generated (producer gas) with high temperatures through a thermal chemical reaction. This high-heat and high-temperature gas is transferred to the steam turbine. In that case, the turbine and generator rotate and generate electrical energy.

How Is Biomass Energy Used to Generate Electricity?

Biomass is a potential, sustainable, and clean energy source in the future. Nowadays it is used in a small sequence to generate electricity but its massive source can be the best commercial contributor to meet electrical load demand. However, how biomass energy is used to generate electricity?

It is another alternative energy source to generate electricity. To obtain output electrical energy, it is required to beyond a few crucial steps. Let’s see some steps and make it clear how is biomass energy used to generate electricity.

1. Biomass Collection from the Nature

Biomass collection is the first step for generating electricity in a biomass power generation plant. In that case, collect a sufficient amount of biomass materials from nature like wood, green plants, or organic waste. That can be collected from forests, different plant firms, or industries. Now bring them out with the help of vehicles like trucks, trolleys, or other vehicles.

2. Biomass Preparation and Processing

Now process the biomass organic materials. Indeed, we have to burn such materials in a chamber to generate steam. In that case, chop the organic materials with a specific measurement. Focus on its impurities. Remove impurities and keep them in good shape so that they can be combusted in a chamber or container to get biofuel.   

3. Combustion of Biomass Fuel

Biomass combustion is a chemical reaction. In a simple biomass power plant, direct combustion system is used to generate electricity in a biomass power generation plant. Indeed, biomass is burned in a boiler to convert it into biofuels or biogas through gasification or anaerobic digestion process. In that case, a direct-fired combustion system is often used to get hot gas or fuel. This gas is used as a fuel that is used to create steam by boiling water.

4. Electricity Generation via Turbine using Steam

After obtaining biofuel, water is heated up (300 to 500 degrees Celsius) into the boiler to create steam. High-heat steam rushes through steel pipe to hit the steam turbine. High-pressure steam spreads to the steam turbine series blade and the turbine starts rotating.

The AC generator is coupled to the turbine shaft. The generator rotor rotates (1500 rpm or 3000 rpm depending on the generator pole) and EMF is induced in the generator stationary armature and we get electricity to the generator output.   

This power is stepped up using a high-voltage step-up transformer and transferred to the national grid through a high voltage transmission line. After that, this power is distributed in different regions for public use. So, this is a simple electricity generation process using the biomass thermal energy method. Although this process is not widespread yet.

Many countries UK, UAE, China, USA, Finland, and other countries have been utilizing this method to generate electricity. The UK has the 740 MW world’s largest biomass energy power plant whose name is the Ironbridge power plant. The second largest biomass power station is in Finland and its capacity is 265 MW which name is Alholmenskraft. So, the number of biomass users is growing rapidly.

Biomass Energy Advantages and Disadvantages

Biomass is the name of another sustainable energy source. It can be used in many ways, such as by generating electricity using direct combustion methods, producing biogas using animal excrement, and many more.

how-is-biomass-energy-used-to-generate-electricity

Biogas contains a large number of methane (CH4) gas around 45% to 75% that is used as a fuel gas in many residences. However, people also face some advantages and disadvantages when using biomass energy. Let’s see what are some advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy.

Advantages of Biomass Energy

Biomass energy has numerous benefits, so let’s see a few of them.

1. Renewable Energy Source

Biomass is available in nature and it can be collected in various ways like planting, animal excrement, gasification, etc. So, biomass is not a limited resource that’s why it is considered one of the best renewable energy sources in the world. Using biopower technologies people can use clean and sustainable energy in the home, electrical power stations, small power generation, etc.

2. Reliable Energy Source

Biomass is a reliable energy source like solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, and geothermal energy. But biomass energy is a bit different than them. Biomass energy is reliable because it doesn’t depend on weather situations to generate electricity. Other renewable energy sources like solar power plants, hydropower, and wind energy power plants are weather dependent.

3. Waste Reduction

Municipal garbage can be used in the biomass power plant for combustion. In that case, unnecessary waste can be completely removed from any specific region’s land fields. In that case, electricity generation costs will be reduced and we can save our environment from pollution.  

4. Carbon-Neutral

Biomass energy power stations never release carbon dioxide and are free of greenhouse gases. It saves the environment from air pollution and it is eco-friendly.   

Disadvantages of Biomass Energy

There are some disadvantages of biomass energy. Let’s see what are that.

1. Expensive Source of Energy

According to the USA EIA report biomass power generation capital cost is more around $4,524, $4,416 but solar PV storage capital cost is around 1,748 to 2,044 USD. It is expensive and per unit cost is around 13 cents per KWh.

2. Requires More Space

Generating bulk electricity requires more space compared to other conventional electrical power plants. For this reason, biomass power stations cannot be located in any place.

3. Inefficient Resources

Biomass is a renewable energy source. It has low resources compared to other renewable energy sources like solar thermal power station or solar energy, wind energy hydropower, etc.

How Many Biomass Power Plants Are There in The US, UAE, And UK?

Nowadays biomass is playing a leading role in generating small, medium, and bulk power. Not only for the United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates, and China. Many countries in the world have been towering to biomass sustainable energy technology. However, there are more than 4,800 biomass power stations around the world. Among such countries UK has more than 263, the USA more than 630, UAE more or less 6 small, medium, and large-scale biomass power plants.

It is noted that in the UAE government has taken steps to reduce their country waste near to zero. In that, they have made a 571 MW biomass power plant. It is a combustion power station. It can deliver clean electricity to around 2,000 houses and waste can be minimized up to 75% to 90% at any specific region in the UAE.

Final Thought

Renewable energy means that can naturally replenish itself. Biomass is available in nature and easy to get. Biomass can be the best sustainable energy source for the residents or generate a small amount of power. Generating bulk electricity requires more resources and special care. However, we have shown above how is biomass energy used to generate electricity with a few simple steps. Hopefully, that will be more beneficial.

Q. Do We Need Composting a Biomass to Generate Electricity?

Composting is an organic materials recycling process. The organic materials are converted into nutrient or rich materials by composting. Composting has extensive positive environmental impacts. It increases soil health and helps to grow more crops. However, composting is not necessary to generate electricity from biomass.

Q. How Much Electricity Can Be Generated from Biomass?

Biomass energy generation limit relies on its energy resources. Indeed, 2 MW to 1000 MW of electricity can be generated from biomass. In most cases, it is standard to generate 2 MW to 200 MW of electrical energy. So, how much biomass fuel is required for 1 MWh to generate electricity? To generate 1 MWh of electricity requires around 1.5 to 2.5 metric tons of biomass.

Q. How Much Energy can 1kg of Biomass Produce?

How much energy does 1kg of biomass produce? Indeed, with 1 kg gasified biomass stores, we may get around 8000 kJ of energy. If we use it to generate electricity, then we can generate approximately 0.8 KWh. So, 2 kg of gasified biomass is capable of generating around 1.6 KWh of electrical output power.  

Q. What Is the Efficiency of Biomass to Electricity Conversion?

Its efficiency depends on your energy generation process and how you have been using these materials. The average efficiency of biomass power stations is around 20% to 45%. Nowadays biomass co-firing in power plants efficiency is approximately 45% and it is cost-effective as well.

Leave a Comment