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June 3, 2013

What is Biomass Energy?

What is Biomass Energy?

Biomass means all materials which come from living organisms. For instance, waste material of plants and animals, wood, agricultural wastes, dead parts of plants and animals. Since all living organisms contain carbon compounds, biomass has energy stored in the form of chemical compounds. The method of harnessing energy from each one of them could be different. Direct burning of these materials generally causes pollution but could be the cheapest form of energy. Eg. Using wood or dried cow dung cakes as fuel generates a lot of smoke. However, if cow dung is used in biogas plant, clean fuel can be generated. Mostly in villages, all types of biomass are traditionally burnt directly to produce heat.

Advantages of Biomass Energy

1)      It's a renewable source of energy.

2)      It's a comparatively lesser pollution generating energy.

3)      Biomass energy helps in cleanliness in villages and cities.

4)      It provides manure for the agriculture and gardens.

5)      There is tremendous potential to generate biogas energy.

6)      Biomass energy is relatively cheaper and reliable.

7)      It can be generated from everyday human and animal wastes, vegetable and agriculture left-over etc.

8)      Recycling of waste reduces pollution and spread of diseases.

9)      Heat energy that one gets from biogas is 3.5 times the heat from burning wood.

10)   Because of more heat produced the time required for cooking is lesser.

11)   Pressure on the surrounding forest and scrubs can be reduced when biogas is used as cooking fuel.

12)   It is a more cost effective means of acquiring energy as compared to oil supplies. As oil supplies are getting depleted day by day, it is becoming a costly commodity.

13)   Growing biomass crops use up carbon dioxide and produces oxygen

Disadvantages of Biomass Energy

1.       Cost of construction of biogas plant is high, so only rich people can use it.

2.       Continuous supply of biomass is required to generate biomass energy.

3.       Some people don't like to cook food on biogas produced from sewage waste.

4.       Biogas plant requires space and produces dirty smell.

5.       Due to improper construction many biogas plants are working inefficiently.

6.       It is difficult to store biogas in cylinders.

7.       Transportation of biogas through pipe over long distances is difficult.

8.       Many easily grown grains like corn, wheat are being used to make ethanol. This can have bad consequences if too much of food crop is diverted for use as fuel.


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(Useful for UPSC General Studies, APPSC Group 1 Group 2 , Mains Material, Paper 1, Paper 4 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3, ROLE AND IMPACT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA, GENERAL AWARENESS WITH THE MODERN TRENDS IN LIFE SCIENCES, DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS) 

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2 comments:

Dr. U. Surya Kameswari said...

dear administrator,

i am new to Groups. i have zero knowledge about Groups. please give detailed information related to Groups. i.e., What is group 1, 2 ,3 and 4. what are the designations in respective groups. everything related to groups.

thanking you.

Saidul Naik said...


Please read all the articles in this page, u will get clear idea...

http://appscgroup.blogspot.com/2013/10/prepration-plan-to-appsc-recent-notification-exams-appsc-group-1-appsc-group-2-exams.html


The structure of Group 2 is best known from going through the below link:
http://appscgroup.blogspot.com/2014/02/2.html

Executive posts are best prefered, but recently government merged Group2 Posts with Group1 posts and renamed Group 2 Executive posts as Group-1B.

But it has not been implemented so far, though GO has been passed.
The details of Group 1B as passed by GO are below the link:
http://appscgroup.blogspot.com/2013/04/posts-under-group1a-and1b-merger-detaisl.html

The materials on this blog are only for reference purpose.

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