Biomass
Biomass refers to plant biomass as a renewable source of usable energy. From biomass are created biofuels, which can be divided to free categories: solid biofuels, liquid biofuels and gaseous biofuels. Biofuels are primarily used for heating and cooking. The energy is loosen by burning biofuels or more effectiveness method by using fuel cells.
Biomass is a summary of the body of organisms such as plants, bacteria, cyanobacteria and fungi and animals. Biomass has its origin in the solar radiation and photosynthesis, so it is a renewable source of energy.
The total mass of biomass is usually determined by weighting, where appropriate estimate of the volume or length of the body. By organisms, that are youthful is determined alive or fresh biomass. More accurate is determination of dry biomass (dry weight) and dry mass without ash matter. Energy value of biomass is determined by burning in on the basis of the proportion of protein, sugars and fats.
Ecological definition of biomass
Ecology defines biomass as the total mass of individual and species groups of all types of communities on a particular area. The plants are expressed in dry weight, the animals also in fresh weight (in joules, calories even earlier, carbon content, etc..). The soil and aquatic organisms might also be related to the total volume. The plants are distinguished by underground or above-ground biomass, biomass alive or dead.
The potential of biomass
Study of European Environment Agency established in 2006 set the European biomass potential, which would respect the protection of biodiversity and to lead only to a minimum adverse impact. About 15% of energy, that will be demanded in 2030 in the European Union, should be covered by the energy produced from agricultural, forestry and waste products from a purely European sources. By 2030 it should be delivered about 18% heat, 12.5% electricity and 5.4% transport fuels from origin European biomass. Biomass was widely used in Europe before 1850, but then came the Industrial Revolution and the population increased to tens of millions inhabitant and biomass turned as insufficient ressource out.
Biofuel
Biofuel is created by targeted production or is prepared from biomass. It represents one of the possible using of biomass, which can be used as a raw material for construction, furniture, packaging for paper products and etc.
Possible distribution of biofuels:
- Solid biofuels
- Liquid biofuels
- Gaseous biofuels
Biofuels cover 15% of total world energy consumption, particularly in the Third World, where it serves mainly for cooking and heating homes. Relatively high proportion of biofuels are also in Sweden (17%) and Finland (19%).