Biomass power

lBiomass is organic material of recent origin that can be used as a source of energy. It generally includes crops and other plants, as well as agricultural, forest, sawdust and agro-industrial waste

lElectricity that is produced as a result of utilizing surplus biomass sources into energy is considered biomass power. Biomass combusted in a boiler produces steam. This steam drives a turbine generator that produces electricity. This electricity will be fed into the high voltage transmission grid to be transported to end-users.

 * Direct Biomass combustion:  Generation of electricity through heat & steam

 * Biomass Liquefaction via Pyrolysis:  Power generation by combustion of pyrolysis oil

 * Gasification of Biomass:  Power generation using derived producer gas.

 * Organic plant based oil: Generation of electricity using CPO(i.e. Crude Palm Oil - CPO)

 * Bio gas anaerobic digestion: Power generation using scrubbed methane gas.

Electricity can also be generated from Biomass and stored to be used in homes. Let's see this simple illustration of how biomass is used to generate electricity.

1. Energy from the sun is transferred and stored in plants. When the plants are cut or die, wood chips, straw and other plant matter is delivered to the bunker.
2. This is burned to heat water in a boiler to release heat energy (steam).
3. The energy/power from the steam is directed to turbines with pipes.
4. The steam turns a number of blades in the turbine and generators, which are made of coils and magnets.
5. The charged magnetic feilds produce electricity, which is sent to homes by cables.
Why Biomass?

Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from the carbonaceous waste of various human and natural activities. It is derived from numerous sources, including the by-products from the timber industry, agricultural crops, raw material from the forest, major parts of household waste and wood.

Biomass does not add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as it absorbs the same amount of carbon in growing as it releases when consumed as a fuel.
The biomass reduces energy costs and keeps dollars within the local economy. Income from the sale of biomass could benefit individuals in rural economies.  Sales of agricultural residues like wheat straw and corn stover would serve as a second crop with minimal cost for field maintenance. In addition, biomass collection and handling, as well as installing and operating gasifier systems will bring additional jobs to rural communities.

Before biomass can achieve its full potential, there is a need for coordinated action, led by governments, to identify and overcome a number of barriers, including institutional, transitional, financial, and technical issues. Without government incentives, the cost of efficient wood burning equipment is too expensive for most individuals, as well as small- to medium-sized installations
.

There are many potential biomass sources available, with varying advantages and disadvantages. Although municipal solid waste is heavily regulated and faces opposition from the public it does provide a feasible solution to waste production and can prove economically viable for large commercial power plants. Commercial and industrial wastes can provide a large amount of biomass material and is promising for use on the site where it is produced.

Wind Farms

A wind farm is a group of  wind turbines in the same location used for production of electricity . A wind farm may  be located on onshore/ offshore. Many of the largest operational onshore wind farms are located in the USA and China. The world's first wind farm – consisting of 20 wind turbines rated at 30 kilowatts each – was installed on Crotched Mountain in southern New Hampshire in US in December, 1980 .Europe is the leader in offshore wind energy with the first offshore wind farm being installed in Denmark in 1991.

 

Offshore wind farms: 

Offshore wind farms refers to the construction of wind farms in bodies of water to generate electricity from wind. Better wind speeds are available offshore compared to on land.

Offshore turbines require different types of bases for stability, according to the depth of water. No Noise Pollution .  No Injuries to Birds , No loss in scenery . Higher costs as a main challenge.


Onshore wind farms:
 Onshore wind farms refers to the construction of wind farms on land. They are most affordable renewable energy resources, Low Cost which is around half the cost of offshore wind and a quarter of the costs of solar photovoltaic panels.

Onshore wind farms operate on land, generally in places of high altitudes or in large open spaces where the wind tends to be strongest. In the United States, the states with the greatest onshore wind capacity include North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Montana and Nebraska. Onshore wind farms offer several key advantages over offshore farms. The turbines, for instance, are much easier and less expensive to set up, maintain and operate than offshore turbines. Onshore farms also have easier and less costly access to the utility grid. Drawbacks, on the other hand, include weaker yet more turbulent winds than those offshore. Onshore projects also often face opposition from area residents due to aesthetic disruption of landscape as well as the noise pollution issues.

Near Shore wind farms :

Located anywhere from 2 miles from the coast on land to 5 miles out to sea, near shore wind farms take advantage of the strong winds created by coastal convection. Though they have advantages, near shore farms face the same aesthetic resistance as onshore farms due to their proximity to the shoreline. In fact, because of the higher population concentration along coastal areas in the United States, they often to face more opposition than farms proposed in the more sparsely populated Great Plains.

How to Start a Wind Farm:

With depleting natural resources and an increase in environmental consciousness around the globe, wind farms are gaining popularity as an energy resource. Wind farms have multiple windmills or wind turbines placed in one location to generate electricity from their rotating panels powered by the wind. Wind energy harnessed from wind farms has many advantages--it is clean, renewable and though it requires a high initial investment, it continues to generate free energy using the natural power of the wind. Since even a small wind turbine is expensive, starting a wind farm requires some research and careful planning

1.Develop a business plan. Determine how much money would be required to invest and maintain a wind farm and what type of business model would be best suited for you. If you have sufficient funds, then you can start your wind farm with a small turbine and sell the electricity generated to a local power company. But if you don't have the money to buy wind turbines, you can lease the land to a wind developer who can start a wind farm and share part of the profits with you. Another alternative may be to involve the local community to invest in the wind farm.

2 .Choose an appropriate location. Check the average wind speed in your proposed area by referring to wind resource maps and information on wind speeds by zip code that are available on most state energy department websites. For wind farms, an annual average wind speed of 11 miles per hour or more is required to power the turbines. Besides wind speed, consider other factors such as access to power lines and environmental or community impact.

3.Research local laws and obtain necessary permits. Each state may have its own rules and zoning laws, so it's best to check with local officials about obtaining a permit to start a wind farm. Though many states and federal governments provide incentives for developing wind farms in the form of tax credits, at times there are restrictions on building wind farms due to air traffic safety, noise, aesthetics and property values.

4 .Buy wind turbines for your farm from a certified energy company. Once you have the necessary permits, purchase wind turbines based on your budget and the type of wind farm you want to start. Again, state laws may govern the type, height, number and quality of wind turbines so this must be considered before purchasing them.

5 .Build power transmission lines or partner with a local company. If you have a large wind farm, then you can set up your own power lines that carry electricity from your wind farm to your customers. Small wind farms usually partner with local power distribution companies that sell the electricity through their own power grid.