Biomass / Wood Energy
Definition:
The term "biomass" means any plant derived organic matter available on a renewable basis, including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops, agricultural crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials.
Relative Cost:
Highly variable depending on type of system.
Payback Period:
Highly variable depending on type of system.
Benefits:
- Studies indicate that New Hampshire has excellent biomass resource potential. For more state-specific resource information, see Biomass Feedstock Availability in the United States: 1999 State Level Analysis.
- Although direct-fired biopower systems produce air pollution emissions, they are cleaner than coal-fired power plants because they do not release sulfur dioxide, a key pollutant contributing to acid rain.
- They can be referred to as carbon dioxide neutral, given that the plant material absorbs as much carbon dioxide during its life as released when burned to produce electricity. This remains true only if the biomass is harvested in a sustainable manner.
- If energy crops are produced with minimal use of chemicals, they could potentially enhance agricultural lands and improve wildlife habitat.
- With the exception of methane recovery systems, biomass systems are usually fueled by waste wood, from logging operations, forest thinning, low-grade wood, and/or sawmill residues. These systems create a commercial market for wood whose extraction benefits forest health while also boosting the forest-product economy. Rather than depleting the forest resource, biomass energy, when sustainably supplied, helps it to grow.
- Biomass energy systems are fueled by a renewable, local resource. Dollars spent on these fuels stay in the local and regional economy, and help build jobs and support businesses in the forest-products sector. Because the pricing of biomass fuel is relatively stable, institutions heating with biomass can plan more reliably for fuel costs, with very low rates of price increase.
- Burning biomass for energy contributes to national security by reducing dependence on foreign energy supplies.
Challenges:
- The main concern with regard to emissions from biomass power production is the release of unburned particles that contribute to human health concerns. Pollution control technologies are available for removing these particulates from the smokestack.
- The production of energy crops for bioenergy production can also be a cause for concern if not grown in a sustainable manner.
Tools / Incentives:
- US Deptpartment of Energy - Biomass Program: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Biomass Program works with industry, academia and our national laboratory partners on a balanced portfolio of research in biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies. Through research, development, and demonstration efforts geared at the development of integrated biorefineries, the Biomass Program is helping transform the nation's renewable and abundant biomass resources into cost competitive, high performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower.
- Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC): http://www.biomasscenter.org/
Located in Montpelier, Vermont, BERC works on projects around the country to install systems that use biomass fuel to produce heat and/or electricity. Partners in these projects have included schools, communities, colleges, businesses, utilities, and government agencies.
- Pellet Fuels Institute: http://www.pelletheat.org/
The Pellet Fuels Institute is a non-profit association that serves the pellet industry, which is comprised of pellet mills, pellet appliance manufacturers and industry suppliers. The Institute is active in educating consumers about the convenience and practicality of using wood pellet fuel in both residential and commercial applications.
- North Country RC&D: http://www.nhrcd.net/
RC&D is a federal program that is delivered at the local level by independent, volunteer directed RC&D councils. North Country RC&D is conducting work on community scale biomass energy/heating and district heating and has information for schools and communities on the potential benefits of using biomass.
- Northeast District Energy Corporation: http://www.energy.rochester.edu/ndec/
The Northeast District Energy Corporation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity whose purpose is to promote the development of new district energy systems in the Northeast United States with a preference for renewable resources such as biomass, solar and waste heat where available.
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Design Standards /
Land Use Regulations
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