Energy from forest biomass - some potential benefits and problems

摘要: The topic "Energy from Forest Biomass" currently is of widespread interest, not only within the forest products industry, but also some segments electric power industry. An information explosion on this subject has appeared in print during past 2 years. Biomass can briefly be defined as material derived solar energy via process photosynthesis. Included are all portions trees and shrubs (bole, limbs, leaves, or needles, roots) agricultural residues such plant stalks, leaves roots. Thus biomass a renewable form energy. Without becoming mired statistics, we look at extent that forest-derived (mill logging slash) contributes to our total future capability form. United States now uses annually about 75 quadrillion Btu's A (commonly referred "quad") formidable both think read--1,000,000,000,000,000 Btu's. We devour these quads each year keep industries running, homes heated cooled, transportation systems moving, crops planted harvested. About 50 percent petroleum, which half imported (15). Wood supplies less than 75-quad total. One quad equals 60,000,000 tons oven-dry wood fuel. If used available mill residues, they would generate 3 total, 1.5 2.3 quads. This approximately amount needed by so, theory, could become completely self-sufficient (11, 13, 16).