Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 5.1
U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source (2008)
Energy Consumption
(quadrillion Btu)
Energy Source
Total
99.438
Renewable
7.367
Biomass (total)
3.852
Biofuels
1.372
Waste
0.436
Wood and wood-derived fuels
2.044
Geothermal energy
0.360
Hydroelectric conventional
2.512
Solar thermal/PV energy
0.097
Wind energy
0.546
Source: EIA, U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source , Environmental
Investigation Agency, Washington, D.C., 2007 (http://www.eia.
doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/trends/table1.html).
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2004, it was estimated that in the United States alone more than 100 billion
gallons of light fuel oil per year can be produced from waste and biomass.
The source waste and biomass included in this estimation included municipal
solid waste, municipal sewage sludge, hazmat waste, agricultural crop waste,
feedlot manure, plastics, tires, heavy oil or tar sands, forestry waste, restaurant
grease, and biomass crops (switchgrass) grown on idle land and cropland.
It is important to note that biomass-produced bioenergy is not the panacea for
solving our energy needs now and for the future. There are environmental impacts
associated with biomass technology. There are tradeoffs. Are these tradeoffs sig-
nificant? Are they worth it? Will biomass eventually replace fossil fuel usage? The
jury is still out; however, with proper technology, proper planning, proper usage,
and proper operation, biomass conversion to bioenergy can and will make a differ-
ence, eventually. There are probably more benefits than non-benefits to be derived
from the use of biomass, but this topic is about the environmental impacts of
renewable energy, including biomass-to-bioenergy conversion. Later, after a brief
introduction to what biomass is, how it is currently used, plant basics, feedstocks,
biodiesel, and biogas, the environmental impacts of biomass production, refining,
and usage are discussed.
 
 
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