Biofuel Info

• Information about Biofuel

  Biofuel is a natural alternative from other fossil fuels and is attained from living or biological material that has just died. Basically biofuel is produced by using ethanol from naturally grown plant matter which allows for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly earth. To assist in the manufacturing of biofuel, the plants and plant-derived materials that contribute to its formation includes corn, corn cob, sugar cane, soybeans, flaxseed, rapeseed, vegetable oils, waste cooking oils, animal fats, tall oil and even cow manure.However, at present the most widely used source of bioeenergy is of course wood.

  The benefits of biomass energy can be brought to multiple buildings by connecting them to a central wood energy plant, using a network of hot-water or steam-heat distribution piping. The central plant can produce cost-effective electricity and cooling, in addition to generating heat and process steam.

  Forest Sustainability

  It is common for those considering biomass energy to ask: "What about the forest? In a larger role for biomass energy, will forest ecosystems become more or less sustainable?"

  This is a complex, important issue. As yet there is no accepted definition of "forest sustainability." Some for example, say that wood-fueled biomass systems contribute no new carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, when the forests from which the wood came are sustainably managed. In this case, by "sustainably," they mean that harvesting of fuel wood is conducted in ways that contribute to the health of the forest, rather than depleting it.

  Biomass energy systems commonly use waste-product wood - culls from forest thinning, tops from logging or thinning operations, and/or sawmill residues. By providing a market for the low-grade wood that foresters agree needs to be thinned from our forests, biomass energy contributes in significant ways to forest health and sustainability.

  Others define forest sustainability in varying ways. Foresters themselves debate the answers to such key questions as, "What is the appropriate amount of wood to remove for a healthy forest? Should all tops from harvests be left, or only some?" The debate continues. It's a healthy one.

  Emerging certification programs are one promising means of assuring that wood products have been sustainably produced. In the overall marketplace, you cannot always promise this level of assurance. Instead we tend to ask, of a specific biomass project: Is there any part of the biomass supply that is clearly not sustainable?

Clean Costs

The right idea, for the right reason, at the right time... The benefits of incorporating biomass boilers in new construction - or in retrofitted, existing heating systems include: ? Facility heating costs are reduced by 30% - 70%. ? Fire danger is decreased. ? Air quality is enhanced as waste wood is burned cleanly and efficiently. ? Decreased forest management costs. ? New jobs are created in local communities. ? Renewable domestic fuel source that increases energy independence. In addition, we're learning from the first few systems installed: ? The initial investment costs have decreased by 30% due to improvements in building and equipment design. ? Systems can be designed to incorporate various fuel types, including wood chips or pellets. ? Installation costs can be recovered within 6-15 years, due to tremendous savings from lower fuel costs. Successes to Date... Biomass heating systems are proving their worth in several communities throughout the inland West.

Farm Methane

Methane is a combustible gas produced by the anaerobic, or oxygen-free, digestion of vegetable and/or animal wastes. A number of projects around the country are using methane gas to generate power - and within the agricultural sector, there is growing interest in using farm wastes to produce methane. Anaerobic methane digesters can offer three key benefits to farms: power production along with odor reduction and improved nutrient management.

For farms large enough to make it work, methane recovery has these important benefits: Odor reduction. Biomass systems can significantly reduce odor, which often plagues larger farms in areas of suburbanization. Nutrient management. Water runoff from manure is a very large contributor to nonpoint water pollution in the U.S. Power production. Using an existing product to generate electricity can improve a farm's balance sheet. On farms with significant heating needs, a combined heat and power (CHP) system may make sense.

There were inconsistent results from the first generation of systems, mostly from the 1980s, for digesting animal wastes to produce methane for fuel. A new generation of commercial methane systems is now being developed and produced, with much experimentation around both fresh and time-tested approaches.

Bio Technology

Biofuel can be distinguished as a gaseous, liquid or solid fuel and is generally used for vehicles, homes and cooking. It powers vehicles and produces heat and electricity in homes. Modern technology has even designed a system where pollution can be converted into renewable biofuel. Household, forestry, industry and agricultural waste are used to produce bioenergy that can be stored for an indefinite time period. This is just one aspect of biofuel that differentiates it from other fossil fuels and crude oil.