Renewable resources are renewable, they are not unlimited. It is imperative we utilize all renewable resources in the most prudent manner possible. The ideal use would be economical, utilize as much of the entire raw material as possible so that nothing is wasted, and convert into the highest amount of energy. Biomass can be used for methane gas, transportation fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel, electrical generation and thermal heat.

• Bio fuels utilize only part of the plant which results in a large amount of unused resource. Bio fuels are also typically blended with petroleum-based fossil fuels.
• Bio electricity consumes the entire material, but converts at only 21% efficiency.
• Bio thermal energy consumes the entire raw material and converts at 90% efficiency.

Therefore, the same tonnage of biomass could be used to either create 1 MWhr of electricity and displace 1.65 MWhrs of fossil fuel; or it could be used to create 4.455 MWhrs of thermal energy and displace 4.95 MWhrs of fossil fuel.

With heat consuming 1/3 of our nations energy, it makes good sense to utilize biomass for thermal energy and to use other, more efficient, renewable resources for electrical energy and fuels.

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Slide from a presentation on biomass thermal energy Learn more about thermal versus electricity

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