Biomass

What is Biomass?

Biomass is organic matter that can be processed into energy for heat, liquid fuels or power generation. Sources of biomass include wood, plants, agricultural residues, animal waste, and the organic components of municipal and industrial wastes.

Currently GEO is working to increase its involvement in biomass combined heating and power (CHP) projects with an emphasis on woody biomass, agricultural sources and landfill. Learn more about GEO's Community Biomass for Thermal Usage Program here.

Benefits of Using Biomass

On a net basis, from planting through use, harmful emissions, including CO2, from biomass are lower than from a fossil fuel plant. However, although biomass is cleaner burning compared to fossil fuels, it is still responsible for some pollutants. In most cases, the most critical and harmful pollutants are significantly reduced by using biomass instead of fossil fuels. In addition, biomass is a renewable resource and can be produced domestically.

Reduced Air Pollution
Biomass resources produce less emissions than their fossil fuel counterparts. Biomass contains less sulfur than coal, and consequently produces less SO2. Emissions of NOx are usually lower as well.

Reduced Waste
Biomass technology can be used to convert waste into energy. Using waste from livestock, for example, yields benefits such as production of heat or electricity, odor reduction, reduced risk of water contamination, and reduced exposure to disease-causing organisms. One example of this technology is anaerobic digestion.

Reduced Use of Landfills
Landfills are full of woody biomass resources from construction, lumber mill activities, disposal of wooden palettes, etc. Wastes from food processing, paper industries and household garbage also contain organic matter that could be converted into energy. Using these materials to create energy means less landfill space is needed.

Reduced Risk of Wildfire
The risk of catastrophic wildfire can be reduced by removing small diameter trees that act as a fuel for the flames. The removal of trees is a labor intensive and costly process, but the use of these biomass materials can create a market outlet and thereby help defer the costs of forest thinning activities.

Improved Watershed Quality
Reducing waste flows from livestock, food processing and city sanitation services can contribute to improved water quality. Preventing wildfires can improve water quality. Wildfires reduce the ability of soil to absorb water which leads to increased debris and sediments in the riparian area.

Economic and Social Benefits
Biomass benefits include creation and retention of local jobs in a rural economy. For biomass power systems, it is estimated that six full time jobs are created for each megawatt of installed capacity. Jobs are also created to handle fuel processing and delivery. For corn-based ethanol plants, 100 jobs per year would be created for a 15 million gallon/year facility. More than 66,000 jobs are supported by the biomass industry in the United States.

In addition to creating jobs, the biomass industry supports agriculture. Energy crops - such as fast-growing trees, shrubs and grasses - are grown as sources of fuel. Growing energy crops can provide diversity of production to farmers, reducing risks from fluctuating markets and stabilizing farm income. These crops are typically resistant to disease and relatively inexpensive to grow.