subject: Small Scale Wood Pellet Machine Produces Carbon Neutral Fuel For Factories And Schools [print this page] This short essay shows how biomass materials (plants) can be burnt to produce power and heat without the global warming which scientists fear will result from fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). Grant aid may help communities and businesses make a change to biomass in countries such as the UK. This in turn may help new industries develop in those communities. We see an example in Somerset, UK. A wood pellet machine is imported from Sweden. A small scale industry develops.
Biomass fuels provide the benefit of a closed carbon cycle. There is no overall increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere when biomass fuels are burnt. Scientists and governments concerned about global warming regard this as critical.
One should first review the carbon cycle. When plants are growing they absorb carbon dioxide from air. This also requires solar energy. The carbon in biomass fuels was therefore removed from the atmosphere.
When the plants die the carbon is released back into the earth's atmosphere. If the plants rot and decay CH4 (methane) and CO2 (carbon dioxide) are released. If the plants are burnt as fuel just CO2 is released.
This carbon cycle is a completely natural process which has existed as long as there have been plants (and animals) on the earth.
When scientists worry about global warming they look at the different processes when oil and gas are burnt. Oil, gas and coal are called fossil fuels. They are also derived from plants and animals, and they also emit CO2 to the atmosphere when burnt. The difference is that the carbon in the fossil fuel was absorbed tens of millions of years ago and has been locked in the fuel since that time.
If we now burn those fossil fuels in our cars and power stations we are releasing lots of carbon into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. This is carbon which has been locked up for a very long time. The plant life on earth now cannot absorb that carbon quickly enough. The carbon dioxide levels in the earth's atmosphere grow and the earth becomes warmer (CO2 is a greenhouse gas).
Many governments are concerned about global warming and favor carbon neutral forms of energy production. They favor the closed carbon cycle which occurs when biomass fuels (plants) are burnt. They wish to avoid releasing the stored up carbon from fossil fuels.
In countries like the UK there may be government assistance to promote biomass energy. Programs such as the Bio-Energy Capital Grant Scheme. This supports biomass energy introduction for applications such as combined heat and power (CHP). Commerce, industry and community ventures may all be eligible. Community ventures include diverse spheres such as local authority, hospital, housing and schools.
This will likely lead to opportunities for businesses to produce biomass fuels. For example in the UK there are an increasing number of centers of production (both large and small scale) for wood pellets. In the South West of England the Somerset Pellet Mill has imported a 300 kg/hour wood pellet machine from Sweden. In this way a small scale industry develops in an area not noted for its timber resources.
