Also Try Biochar from Biomass Biomass Kilns Multimedia Low-Tech Charcoal (TED) Describes efforts of Amy Smith to develop low-tech biomass fuels that do not pollute. 04-10 News -04-13-10 Europe Finds Clean Energy in Trash (New York Times) "Far cleaner than conventional incinerators, this new type of plant converts local trash into heat and electricity. Dozens of filters catch pollutants, from mercury to dioxin, that would have emerged from its smokestack only a decade ago." 04-10 Papers -Climate Change: What We Can Do (Evaluation and Development Institute) "Earth's climate became very stable 10,000 years ago, allowing for agriculture for the first time. Our stable climate arose from a balance of three ingredients: -Greenhouse gases -Ocean currents and -Polar ice Greenhouse gases provided a stable temperature to allow ocean currents to mix heat and cold around the globe and to maintain a relatively constant amount of polar ice. We now have 1/3 more CO2 in the air than we had only 150 years ago--and CO2 stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. The extra carbon keeps more heat in the air. The extra heat is absorbed by polar ice, soil, and the oceans. The ice over the Arctic Ocean is expected to be gone during summers within 5-10 years. Instead of ice over the Arctic Ocean reflecting heat, the Arctic Ocean will absorb heat. This will slow the ocean currents even more--they already are slowing because of the change in climate. When the ocean currents stop and the Arctic ice melts, we will have a climate catastrophe that can be expected to last thousands of years. Permafrost in Russia and other regions will melt, releasing gigantic amounts of carbon and methane stored in the soil. The release will trigger even more extreme climate." "Only one cost-effective solution has been found for quickly reducing the carbon in the air:" "Each year we must convert enough biomass (organic waste) into biochar (charcoal) to extract at least 7 gigatons of carbon from the air and place it in our soils." 08-09 -One Last Chance to Save Mankind (TreeHugger.com) "For those that don’t know who James Lovelock is here’s the one sentence bio: Originator of the Gaia hypothesis, chemist, did work on atmospheric chlorofluorocarbons which eventually led them from being banned, advocate of nuclear power. Which is to say, that when James Lovelock says humanity only has one chance left not to get annihilated by the effects of climate change in the 21st century, it’s worth shutting up and listening to what the man says." 10-10 Biomass - Methane Reduction in Europe (European Communities) Provides information on European efforts at cost-effective reduction of methane, one of the main greenhouse gases that are increasing due to human activity. Suggests alternative treatment of biomass is important. In order of cost-effective importance, the study recommends three methods. First, divert biodegradable waste from landfills and use alternative treatments, such as composting or incinerating. Second, collect and burn landfill gas. Third, oxidate landfill gases. (Uses PDF format.) 6-01 Biomass Comparison (Biomass Gasification) Provides chart that compares the economics of concentrating photovoltaic, concentrating solar power, wind turbines/wind farm versus a biomass gasification plant. Claims that the cost per 100 MW power plant is half as much as the other types of plants. Also claims that biomass itself may generate as much as $30/ton to $80/ton. 05-09 Biomass Cook Stoves (TriplePundit.com) "Biomass typically consists of organic materials like wood, crop waste, or animal dung, and for many households in places like India, is the main source of fuel for activities like cooking. Developed at the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University, the cook stoves were engineered to burn traditionally used biomass materials more efficiently." 05-09 Biomass Drying (Agroenergien.com) Provides guidelines for drying biomass. 06-09 Biomass Drying (BiomassEnergyCentre.org.uk) Provides guidelines for drying biomass. 06-09 Biomass Energy from Methane (New York Times) "The process runs at a relatively low temperature, 1,750 degrees Fahrenheit, far too low for nitrogen oxides to form. It destroys other stray but troublesome pollutants that may be present in the landfill gas, like volatile organics, and it produces electricity. And company executives say that it does so at low concentrations of methane, 1.5 percent. (Ordinary pipeline gas is about 80 percent methane.)" 01-12 Biomass and Waste Energy (Australian Renewable Energy Website) Describes and provides diagrams of types of biomass and waste electric generators. 12-00 Biomass and Waste Energy (Australian Renewable Energy Website) Describes and provides diagrams of types of biomass and waste electric generators. 12-00 Biomass and Waste Energy - Sources (Energy Source Guides) Provides listings of suppliers for components for biomass recyclers. 6-01 Biomass for Electrical Energy (Woodgas.com) "Biomass Energy is the oldest, most widespread and practical form of renewable energy. The residues from agriculture and forestry could provide 20% of U.S. energy" 05-09 Converting Coal Plants to Biomass (DailyCamera.com) "Much of the excess wood is now burned in place or at slash drop-off areas. A five-county initiative based in Fort Collins called Peak to Peak Wood, which includes Boulder, is actively trying to create markets for the excess biomass, so it can be sold instead of burned." 06-09 Costs of Biomass for Fuel (Oregon.gov) "Using conventional combustion technology without cogeneration, the estimated cost to generate electricity from biomass ranges from 5.2 to 6.7 cents per kilowatt-hour in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest." "Naturally-occurring anaerobic digestion in solid waste landfills produces methane, which can be used to generate electricity. In Oregon, generating electricity from landfill gas is cost-competitive with natural gas power generation. The estimated cost is 2.9 to 3.6 cents per kilowatt-hour. Sale of power generated from landfill gas can offset the cost of equipment needed otherwise to collect and flare methane produced in landfills." "The estimated cost of producing electric power from anaerobic digestion of animal manure is 3.7 to 5.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. Digester technology can be part of an integrated facility that produces electricity and heat, eliminates waste disposal and odor problems and helps to protect the environment." 06-09 Costs of Biomass for Fuel (Repartners.org) "The costs of biomass fuel vary considerably. At the low end are electricity production facilities located at industrial sites (such as lumber mills), where the fuel is already there, of known consistency, and essentially free (or at a negative net cost, if burning it avoids disposal costs). At the high end are facilities that must collect fuel, transport it, and process it before burning. Typical biomass fuel costs are in the range of $0 to $5 per million Btu." "Widely varying technologies, fuel costs, and fuel types result in wide variations in biomass electricity production costs. According to DOE estimates, a typical direct-fired biomass plant produces electricity at about 9 cents/kWh, but this varies considerably." 06-09 Denmark Builds Huge Waste to-Energy Plant (Biomass Magazine) "Amagerforbraending, a Copenhagen-based waste management company, is building what will be one of the largest waste-to-energy plants in Northern Europe." 07-11 Ethanol from Biomass (Wired.com) "Commercializing biomass-to-ethanol technology would also have international political ramifications, according to Datta. Producing 2.4 million barrels of ethanol per day would 'be a $40 billion per year transfer of wealth from the Middle East to our farmers,'he said. Federal funding of biomass-based ethanol should be less controversial because 'instead of six states benefiting, everyone benefits.' " 01-06 Human Waste as Biofuel (Christian Science Monitor) "Gates foundation is funding effort in Ghana to turn excrement into biodiesel and methane fuels." 06-11 Old Wood Is New Coal (Bloomberg.com) "Using biomass for power and heat -- mainly from poplar, willow and pine trees -- grew by 25 percent during the past two decades, according to the International Energy Agency, the Paris-based adviser to 28 oil-consuming nations such as the U.S." "Power companies are burning trees because they’re renewable and can be cheaper than coal. Wood needs no permit to release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas blamed for global warming." 06-09 Plans for a Biomass Gasifier (Woodgas.com) "The “superficial velocity” (hearth load) of a gasifier is the most important measure of its performance, controlling gas production rate, gas energy content, fuel consumption rate,power output, and char and tar production rate. "The superficial velocity, SV, of a gasifier is defined as:" "SV = Gas Production Rate/Cross Sectional Area = (m3/s)/(m2/s) = m/s" "A low SV causes relatively slow pyrolysis conditions at around 600°C, and produces high yields of charcoal - 20-30%, large quantities of unburned tars, and a gas with high hydrocarbon content and high tar (volatile) content. A high SV causes very fast pyrolysis, producing less than 10% char-ash at 1050 C and hot gases at 1200-1400 C in the flaming pyrolysis zone. These gases then react with the remaining char-ash to yield tars typically less than 1000 ppm, 5-7% char-ash and a producer gas with less energy." 05-09 What Is the Cost of Clean Syngas? (WorldPress.com) "Several large companies have expressed interest, Davis said. He estimates the company could make syngas for about 75 percent of the current price of natural gas on commodities markets, and less than half that of fuel oil. Tipping fees for taking the waste could further lower the cost, he said." Wood Pellets (TreeHugger.com) World's largest pellet manufacturer opens in Florida. 12-10 Projects Cost of Biomass for Electricity (Department of Energy) Places the price of biomass for electricity at $2,000 per million BTU. 05-09 Purchase Resources Biomass Cook Stoves (TreeHugger.com) "The problems: 1) Indoor air pollution in the developing world caused by cooking fires and sooty illumination results in an estimated 1.6 million deaths per year, 2) Deforestation resulting from over use of wood as an energy source causes serious ecosystem degradation in many parts of the developing world." "A solution, as Envirofit sees it: New cookstoves, which while still burning biomass (wood, crop waste, dried animal dung) reduce indoor air pollution by 80%, reduce fuel usage by 50% and decrease cooking times by 40%." Awesome Library does not endorse these products but provides them as examples. 05-09 Wood Pellets (Lignetics.com) Provides wood pellets for burning or pyrolyzing. 12-10 Wood Pellets (PelletHeat.com) Provides wood pellets for burning or pyrolyzing. 12-10

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