Biomass energy or biofuel is hotly debated. There are those who believe that biomass energy is the future and there are many who don’t think it is viable. The proponents refer to the critics as cynics since they seem to reject every ideal development and the critics call the proponents romantics or adventurists because there is some rather concerning evidence suggesting that biomass energy may not be viable on a large scale. In light of such contrasting views, it is necessary for anyone to assess the biomass energy pros and cons, rather objectively and not through a partisan prism.
List of Pros of Biomass Energy
1. Biomass energy is a renewable fuel.
It may not be as abundant as solar energy or as natural as wind energy but it is certainly a renewable source. As long as there is consumption and there is waste produced by us, we would have biomass. If we have biomass, we would have the source to generate energy.
2. Biomass energy can be made widely available.
Generating biomass energy is not depended on oil reserves or coal deposits. One doesn’t have to depend on the geography, terrain and other natural factors. One can generate biomass energy in any country and also distribute easily.
3. Biomass is cheaper.
The cost of producing biomass energy is substantially lower than harnessing solar power or even wind power. It is a tad debatable if coal is a cheaper source because large scale operations of biomass energy generation are yet to be fully explored around the world.
4. Biomass can easily satiate the needs of household energy.
Every neighborhood or community can have small biomass energy generation units and can cater to their own energy needs.
5. Biomass energy is eco friendly.
It has almost no impact on carbon emission or greenhouse gases. There is little to no particulate matter. Air is cleaner and it doesn’t lead to the degradation of the environment as happens with coal mining and other fossil fuels. Biomass energy actually uses waste hence it is helping in waste management and recycling.
List of Cons of Biomass Energy
1. Biomass energy requires a lot of existing energy to produce.
In some scenarios, it has been observed that the energy needed to produce biomass is not worthwhile given the amount of biomass energy produced.
2. A lot of land is needed to generate biomass energy.
This can lead to clearing out of forests and even conversion of agricultural land. The energy is also water intensive.
3. Biomass energy is not completely clean.
It contains soot, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and ash.
4. Biomass is seasonal.
Biomass energy can be seasonal, it may lead to food shortage due to preferential production and the overall process is quite expensive.
