Alternative Fuel Sources - Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Advances in Transportation and Power - page 109

it has been uneconomical to transport wood residues more than 100 miles.
The bulkiness of biomass resources can also cause storage problems.
Many available biomass feedstocks have a high moisture content,
which lowers their heat value. Preprocessing can help, but adds to the
cost. There are also some biomass conversion technologies that are only
marginally beneficial and this keeps them from being cost-competitive.
A large increase in biomass energy production has the potential to
cause serious environmental problems. Land use issues and concerns
about pollution are major concerns. Areas with fragile ecosystems and
rare species would need to be preserved. Agricultural lands would also
compete with food production. The loss of soil fertility from overuse is
a concern. Biomass production would need to be varied and sustainable
while preserving local ecosystems.
Pollution problems could result from the expanded use of fertilizers
and bioengineered organisms on energy farms. The introduction of haz-
ardous chemicals from MSW into the agricultural system could result in
increased air and water pollution.
The usual goal for installing other energy systems in industries or
institutions is to achieve a net savings in energy costs. These savings are
achieved when the energy costs of the sources being replaced are more
than the total operating and installation costs of the energy system.
References
Carless, Jennifer, Renewable Energy , Walker and Company, New York,: 1993.
Cothran, Helen, Book Editor, Global Resources: Opposing Viewpoints , Greenhaven Press,: San
Diego, CA, 2003.
Hordeski, Michael F., Alternative Fuels—The Future of Hydrogen , The Fairmont Press:, Lilburn,
GA, 2007.
Kemp, William H., The Renewable Energy Handbook , Aztext Press,: Ontario, Canada, 2005.
Romm, Joseph J., The Hype About Hydrogen , Island Press: Washington, Covelo, London,
2004.