Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 9.1 The Biopower Fuel Cycle
Growing and
harvesting
Transportation
Processing
Decommissioning
and reclamation
Waste disposal
Power plant
Figure 9.2 The Biofuels Fuel Cycle
Growing and
harvesting
Transportation
Processing
Decommissioning
and reclamation
Waste disposal
Combustion
tains that the environmental costs and benefits of using biomass depend on developing beneficial
biomass resources and avoiding harmful resources. Because biomass markets may involve new
or additional removals of residues, crops, or trees, care must be taken to minimize impacts from
whatever additional demands biomass growth or harvesting makes on the land (UCS 2010).
Beneficial Biomass
Some biomass resources are clearly beneficial in their potential to reduce net carbon emissions.
These beneficial resources exist in substantial quantities and can support increasing production
of biopower and biofuels. A wide range of biomass resources are beneficial because their use
will clearly reduce overall carbon emissions and provide other benefits. Beneficial biomass in-
cludes:
sENERGYCROPSTHATDONOTCOMPETEWITHFOODCROPSFORLAND
sPORTIONSOFCROPRESIDUESSUCHASWHEATSTRAWORCORNSTOVER
sSUSTAINABLYHARVESTEDWOODANDFORESTRESIDUES
sCLEANMUNICIPALANDINDUSTRIALWASTES4ILMANETAL
Utilization of other biomass resources may be harmful if their use will increase overall carbon
emissions or entail other severe environmental costs.
 
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