Biomass is one of the best alternatives for creating clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research.
Electricity produced from the controlled combustion of untreated cellulosic wastes, such as bark, orchard trimming, rice hulls, and sugar bagasse drops net greenhouse gas emissions below a zero, according to research conducted by Gregory Morris, PhD, for the Green Power Institute’s Renewable Energy Program of the Pacific Institute.
The negative net effect is because the usual disposal options for wood and agriculture wastes emit large quantities of methane gas and CO2 through decomposition, forest fires, and landfilling Robert E. Cleaves, IV, Chairman of USA Biomass, said, in discussing Morris’ work.
"Biomass should be recognized for the significant role it will play in providing a net reduction of the greenhouse gas effect," Cleaves said.
In his research paper, Morris points out that, "in addition to being carbon neutral, bioenergy production can reduce net greenhouse-gas emissions by contributing to healthier and more resilient forests, and by eliminating the reduced-carbon emissions that are associated with the alternative fates for biomass resources that are not converted into useful energy."
Furthermore, Morris says the biomass benefits could be included as offsets in a greenhouse gas tracking program, and that "The value of the greenhouse-gas offsets should improve the competitiveness of energy production from biomass and biogas resources in the energy marketplace of the future."
USA Biomass is the only national organization dedicated to representing the views and interests of the nation’s open-loop biomass electricity industry, which provides more than 1600MW of baseload, grid-connected, renewable electricity.
Morris’ report "Bioenergy and Greenhouse Gases" can be read at the Pacific Institute’s website.
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