Biomass simply means fuel produced from organic sources. Traditional biomass such as wood, charcoal, and other plant matter has been the fuel of choice for thousands of years, and it remains so in many parts of the world. Modern biomass, however, includes other types of fuel derived from plants, such as the residues of existing agricultural, livestock, and lumber industries, from forests planted and harvested renewably, and from farms dedicated to this purpose.
Biomass needs to be produced on a sustainable basis, whether on deforested lands or on excess agricultural land, and never from virgin forests. Some of the most suitable locations are areas where widespread deforestation has already occurred, but there are still other possible sources of biomass. For example, residues from the processing of pulpwood, cereals, and logging operations can be processed into gas or burned in power plants to generate electricity. Methane from urban landfills and from animal and human wastes is another potential type of fuel derived from biomass, although the derivation of fuels from landfills requires the labor-intensive separation of various materials.
As an alternative to non-renewable energy sources, modern biomass may have the greatest potential for growth, especially in transportation and powering vehicles. For example, Brazil has been a leading nation in the use of ethanol (alcohol-based fuel) for automobiles. It is derived from sugar cane and grains grown specifically to produce ethanol. Biomass also looks promising as a fuel source for electricity if it is burned in small, local power stations.
Questions to be answered (in writing):
1. What is biomass?
2. What are the most suitable locations for producing biomass?
3. How can biomass be used as an alternative to energy and fuel sources?
4. What is it derived from?
