Energy from biomass

Energy from biomass

Energy from biomass, even if conceptually ancient as man, is among the renewable energy sources that can be widely used, provided that a series of parameters are respected.
Biomass is defined as any product of agricultural crops and forestation, any residues of the wood and paper industry and all organic products deriving from the biological activity of animals and humans, such as those contained in urban waste.
In more general terms, a biomass is the result of a natural biological process, both of animal and vegetable origin, which is produced on Earth based on an organic life cycle.

In the biomass term, therefore, any substance of organic origin, both vegetable and animal, can be used for energy purposes.
By way of simplification, biomass comes essentially from three supply chains: wood supply chain, agricultural supply chain, also from special crops (sunflower, rape and soybeans) and waste and refuse supply chain.
Interesting is the sector of biomass deriving from the waste of agricultural activities that can be reused in special thermal plants to produce electricity. Getting energy from biomass can eliminate waste produced by human activities, produce electricity and reduce dependence on fossil sources such as oil.
However, in the use of energy sources deriving from biomass, it is necessary to take into account the process efficiency that must be assessed not only with regard to the efficiency of the transformation process (collection, transport, process efficiency, etc.) but also of ecological performance too often not evaluated.

Guido Bissanti