What are the disadvantages of bio-mass?

Answer 1

Low net energy produced; uses large areaThe biggest problems with using biomass as an energy source are two-fold: first, it takes a lot of energy to grow plants, and second, it takes a lot of land area and water to grow plants. Also, currently we cannot make ethanol from fast growing plants like switchgrass, only from corn, which is much less efficient. In the future, that technology will probably be discovered, although it's not clear when.

The real question about biomass is whether or not you get a significant amount of energy NET. To determine that is not simple in practice, but in principle it is just the amount of energy produced minus the amount of energy that went into production. When you include the energy content all the aspects of farming (making fertilizer, irrigation and watering, driving tractors, etc.) as well as the energy required to convert plant matter into ethanol, the net gain is not very much (a few percent). Some calculation actually show that more energy is spent producing biomass than comes out! Right now, with current technology, growing corn for energy is energy politics, not energy policy.

Also, if biomass is used as a source of energy on a global scale to replace oil, coal and natural gas, we would have plant energy crops on a very large percentage of the earth's land surface. It is not clear if there is enough water to support that kind of large-scale agriculture. The scale would be many times larger than all the land used currently for food production. The massive land area used may also raise issues of land use and may cause damage to natural habitats and may threaten the survival of sensitive species.

Disadvantages

• Biocrops have a higher value than food and can detract food production, leading to food shortages and increased prices
• Some pollutants are released into the atmosphere
• we might run out of plants and animals
• Biofuels are inefficient.
• Biofuels cause some pollution.

Fermentation of the biomass emits methane that destroys the atmosphere, in particular the higher altitudes that protects us from the dangerous UV rays.
High ash and moisture content, and high chloride content (corrosive gasses).
One disadvantage of biomass is that is causes air pollution. Also we could run out of chickens and no poo would come out their rear end

Answer 2

Low net energy produced; uses large areaThe biggest problems with using biomass as an energy source are two-fold: first, it takes a lot of energy to grow plants, and second, it takes a lot of land area and water to grow plants. Also, currently we cannot make ethanol from fast growing plants like switchgrass, only from corn, which is much less efficient. In the future, that technology will probably be discovered, although it's not clear when.

The real question about biomass is whether or not you get a significant amount of energy NET. To determine that is not simple in practice, but in principle it is just the amount of energy produced minus the amount of energy that went into production. When you include the energy content all the aspects of farming (making fertilizer, irrigation and watering, driving tractors, etc.) as well as the energy required to convert plant matter into ethanol, the net gain is not very much (a few percent). Some calculation actually show that more energy is spent producing biomass than comes out! Right now, with current technology, growing corn for energy is energy politics, not energy policy.

Also, if biomass is used as a source of energy on a global scale to replace oil, coal and natural gas, we would have plant energy crops on a very large percentage of the earth's land surface. It is not clear if there is enough water to support that kind of large-scale agriculture. The scale would be many times larger than all the land used currently for food production. The massive land area used may also raise issues of land use and may cause damage to natural habitats and may threaten the survival of sensitive species.

Disadvantages

• Biocrops have a higher value than food and can detract food production, leading to food shortages and increased prices
• Some pollutants are released into the atmosphere
• we might run out of plants and animals
• Biofuels are inefficient.
• Biofuels cause some pollution.

Fermentation of the biomass emits methane that destroys the atmosphere, in particular the higher altitudes that protects us from the dangerous UV rays.
High ash and moisture content, and high chloride content (corrosive gasses).
One disadvantage of biomass is that is causes air pollution. Also we could run out of chickens and no poo would come out their rear end