Biomass: Definition, Types, Facts, Uses, Merits, Statistics Explained
Biomass refers to the organic material that is used for production energy. The energy from these organisms can be burned to create heat or converted into electricity. Biomass is the oldest energy source. People have been burning firewood to heat their homes and cook food for thousands of years. It is non-renewable energy,once it is used it will get exhausted. Biomass is primarily found in the form of living or recently living plants and biological wastes, municipal solid waste from industrial and home use. These are called biomass feedstocks. Biomass is the oldest energy source.
This Story also Contains
- What is Biomass?
- Types of Biomass
- Advantages of Biomass
- Disadvantages of Biomass
- Biomass vs Fossil Fuels
- Is Biomass Renewable or Non-Renewable?
- Biomass Conversion Methods
- Tips, Tricks, & Mnemonics
- Biomass NEET MCQs
- FAQs on Biomass
Biomass is organic material like wood, crop residues, animal waste, and industrial by-products used as a renewable energy source. It is considered carbon-neutral when managed sustainably and helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels. As a key Class 12 Biology topic under Ecosystem, biomass links energy flow, sustainability, and ecological balance.
What is Biomass?
Biomass is a renewable energy source because its supply is unlimited. The basic points about biomass are discussed below:
Biomass includes waste from wood, agriculture residues, human manure and organic waste which is from municipal corporation waste.
The biomass is considered carbon neutral resulting in a zero net carbon footprint.
Biomass can reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and is also one of the sustainable ways to practice and maintain ecological balance.
It is beneficial for the ecosystem as it helps in balancing out the nutrients.
Types of Biomass
Biomass comes from a variety of sources. Below are some of the different types of biomass:
Type of Biomass | Explanation |
Agriculture residues |
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Animal waste |
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Forestry residue |
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Wood waste |
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Industrial waste |
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Advantages of Biomass
Some of the major advantages of biomass are discussed below:
Biomass is a renewable energy source if produced sustainably. Efficient fit ensures that supply matches demand.
In most parts of the world, people use wood or some form of biofuel. The right stove can burn most of these fuels without further processing.
Biomass fuel is generally readily available. Gathering firewood is cheaper than alternative fuels such as gas, wax and electricity.
Biomass fuels are therefore more accessible to the poor. Biomass is within reach of the user. Users are not dependent on suppliers, utilities, or imports as is the case with fossil fuels.
Fuel preparation activities are often more important than emission reduction technologies.
Disadvantages of Biomass
Biomass utilisation is fantastically environmentally friendly and price range-friendly, relying on the feedstocks and era type used. some of the disadvantages of using biomass are discussed in the following points:
Since the combustion process results in excessive carbon dioxide emissions leading to harmful influences on people, waste electricity biomass production is processed and releases less carbon dioxide, being environmentally friendly.
Biomass production can pose critical fitness dangers or risks to human health, especially in poorer regions, due to a lack of understanding and appropriate movement.
Depending on the assets used, deforestation, land degradation and auscultation may be the enormous troubles related to biomass production.
Biomass vs Fossil Fuels
The major difference between biomass and fossil fuels are discussed below:
Feature | Biomass | Fossil Fuels |
Definition | Organic material from living or recently living organisms, like plants and animal waste. | Formed from ancient, decomposed plants and animals over millions of years, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. |
Renewability | Renewable, as it can be replenished quickly (e.g., through crops and waste). | Non-renewable, as it takes millions of years to form, making it finite in supply. |
Carbon Emissions | Releases carbon when burned, but it's often considered “carbon-neutral” if regrown sustainably. | High carbon emissions contribute significantly to greenhouse gases and global warming. |
Energy Source | Derived from modern biological processes, such as photosynthesis in plants. | Derived from ancient biological material transformed by heat and pressure underground. |
Examples | Wood, crop residues, manure, algae, and other plant-based materials. | Coal, oil, natural gas. |
Is Biomass Renewable or Non-Renewable?
Fossil fuels take thousands or millions of years to produce, trees take only 30 years, and corn stalks are produced yearly. Fertiliser is made daily. Biomass materials can be considered renewable energy sources because they are abundant and easily replenishable. Most people think of biomass as a form of renewable energy because the organic material used to produce energy from biomass can be regenerated in a short amount of time.
Biomass Conversion Methods
There are mainly 3 methods for conversion of biomass:
Direct Combustion: In this system, biomass is burned in a combustion furnace to generate hot gasses, which is fed into a boiler to generate steam and used to produce mechanical or electrical energy.
Thermo-Chemical Conversion: It can convert the organic biomass into a valuable and convenient form of product such as gaseous and liquid fuels, residue and by-products.
Biochemical Conversion: In biochemical processes the bacteria and micro organisms used to transform the raw biomass into useful energy like methane gas. It includes fermentation and anaerobic digestion.
Tips, Tricks, & Mnemonics
It takes effort to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding Biomass are given below which you can use to memorise the important points.
Types of Biomass
"FAAWI: Forestry, Agricultural, Animal, Wood, Industrial"
F: Forestry residues (branches, tree tops, sawdust, stumps).
A: Agricultural residues (leaves, stalks, seed pods, stems).
A: Animal waste (excrement, straw, organic residues).
W: Wood wastes (discarded wood products, branches, stumps).
I: Industrial waste (scrap metal, lumber, concrete, chemical residues).
Biomass Conversion
"BCT: Burn, Convert, Transform"
B: Burn directly to produce heat and electricity.
C: Convert into biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel) through fermentation or chemical processes.
T: Transform into biogas through anaerobic digestion of organic material.
Benefits of Biomass
"RCS: Renewable, Carbon-neutral, Sustainable"
R: Renewable energy source, as it can be replenished through proper management.
C: Carbon-neutral (if managed sustainably, carbon released is reabsorbed by plants).
S: Sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Biomass NEET MCQs
Q1. An inverted pyramid of biomass can be found in which the ecosystem?
Forest
Marine
Grassland
Tundra
Correct answer: 2) Marine
Explanation:
In marine ecosystems, the biomass pyramid is inverted because phytoplankton, though small, have a high turnover rate and are consumed quickly by larger organisms. Fish, which are much larger, accumulate more biomass despite consuming a lot of phytoplankton. As a result, the total biomass of fish is greater than that of the phytoplankton, creating an inverted pyramid.
Hence, the answer is the option 2) Marine.
Q2. Which of the following statements is true about the Pyramid of Biomass?
It always shows a pyramid shape in all ecosystems.
It represents the total mass of organisms in a given area.
It is a graphical representation of the energy available at each trophic level.
It can never be inverted in an ecosystem.
Correct answer: 2) It represents the total mass of organisms in a given area.
Explanation:
A pyramid of biomass essentially quantifies the total living or organic matter present in a specific area at each trophic level within an ecological community. This includes the biomass of producers, such as plants, at the base, followed by herbivores that consume these plants, and subsequently, the carnivores that feed on the herbivores, known as first-level carnivores. The biomass is measured in units of mass per unit area.
It's crucial to note that in terrestrial ecosystems, the biomass typically decreases as we ascend the pyramid. For example, the biomass of a solitary tree is significantly greater than the collective biomass of various birds that depend on it for food. Similarly, the biomass of these birds is substantially more than their parasites. This inverse relationship between biomass and trophic levels is a common observation.
In aquatic ecosystems, particularly the sea, we often encounter an inverted pyramid of biomass. This phenomenon arises because the biomass of fishes, which occupy higher trophic levels, frequently surpasses that of phytoplankton, the lowest producer. Phytoplankton, despite their small size, are the foundation of the aquatic food chain due to their high reproduction rates and vast numbers. Consequently, the inverted pyramid in the sea is quite typical, reflecting the disproportionate biomass distribution among various trophic levels in marine environments.
The structure of these pyramids provides insights into the efficiency of energy transfer and the complex interactions that define an ecosystem's structure and function. The clarity and simplicity of the concept are essential for a comprehensive understanding of ecological dynamics.
Hence the correct answer is option 2) It represents the total mass of organisms in a given area.
Q3. Assertion: In an aquatic ecosystem, the Pyramid of Biomass is usually inverted because of the high rate of turnover of primary producers.
Reasoning: Primary producers have a low biomass and a high rate of turnover, while secondary consumers have a higher biomass and a lower rate of turnover.
Both assertion and reasoning are true, and the reasoning correctly explains the assertion.
Both assertion and reasoning are true, but the reasoning does not correctly explain the assertion.
The assertion is true, but the reasoning is false.
Both assertion and reasoning are false.
Correct answer: 1) Both assertion and reasoning are true, and the reasoning correctly explains the assertion.
Explanation:
The assertion that the Pyramid of Biomass is usually inverted in an aquatic ecosystem due to the high rate of turnover of primary producers is true. The reasoning that primary producers have a low biomass and a high rate of turnover, while secondary consumers have a higher biomass and a lower rate of turnover, correctly explains why the Pyramid of Biomass is inverted in aquatic ecosystems.
Hence the correct option is 1) Both assertion and reasoning are true, and the reasoning correctly explains the assertion.
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FAQs on Biomass
What is biomass?
Biomass is any organic matter that can be used as a source of energy, such as trees, crops, seaweed, and animal waste. Biomass is the oldest energy source. People have been burning firewood to heat their homes and cook food for thousands of years.
What are the types of biomass?
Forest residues – remains from the forest includes firewood, crop residues, sawdust.
Animal waste – waste from animals like dung, poultry droppings contains chemical energy
Industrial waste – waste generated by industrial processes e.g., paper, food waste, biodegradable garbage.
Agricultural residues - material extracted from farmland after the harvest includes leaves, stems, stalks and seed
What are the advantages of biomass?
It is a renewable source of energy.
Biomass reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
It helps in waste management by recycling agricultural and animal residues.
Biomass combustion is considered carbon neutral, as CO₂ released is balanced by CO₂ absorbed during plant growth.
What are the disadvantages of biomass?
Biomass burning may cause air pollution (smoke, particulates).
Large-scale biomass use requires deforestation, leading to habitat loss.
Collection and transportation of biomass are time-consuming and costly.
Energy efficiency is lower compared to fossil fuels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Type of biomass:
1. Agricultural Residues
2. Animal Waste
3. Forestry Residues
4. Wood Wastes
The general public agrees that biomass is a renewable energy supply. Most people think of biomass as a form of renewable energy because the organic material used to produce energy from biomass can be regenerated in a short amount of time.
Questions related to
On Question asked by student community
Correct Answer: Both statements are true.
Solution : The correct answer is (a) Both statements are true.
Statement 1 is accurate in defining biomass as a renewable source of energy derived from organic materials like crop residues and wood. Biomass can be sustainably produced, making it a renewable energy source.
Statement 2 is also true as biomass can be utilized in various ways. It can be burned to produce heat for cooking and heating, converted into electricity through processes like combustion or gasification, and processed into biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel.
Therefore, both statements are true as they correctly describe biomass as a renewable energy source and highlight its potential applications in producing heat, electricity, and biofuels.
Correct Answer: Hydroelectric power
Solution : The correct answer is (C) Hydroelectric power
Conventional energy sources typically refer to the traditional and widely used sources of energy that have been utilized for a long time. They are often characterized by their reliance on non-renewable resources.
Hydroelectric power involves the generation of electricity from the energy of flowing or falling water. It is a widely used form of renewable energy and contributes significantly to global electricity generation. However, it is categorized as a conventional energy source due to its long history of utilization and well-established infrastructure.
Correct Answer: biomass productivity
Solution : The correct answer is biomass productivity.
In ecology, biomass productivity is determined by dividing the biomass per unit area by the age of the forest ecosystem. This calculation helps assess the rate at which biomass, or the total mass of living organisms in a given area, is being produced over time in a specific ecosystem. It provides insights into the efficiency of energy transfer and nutrient cycling within the ecosystem.
Correct Answer: Tidal energy
Solution : The correct answer is (C) Tidal energy
Tidal energy is a non-conventional energy source that relies on the tides. It harnesses the kinetic energy of ocean tides and converts it into electricity. Tidal energy is generated by using turbines or other devices that capture the energy of the moving tides. As the tides rise and fall, the movement of water spins the turbines, which then generate electricity. Tidal energy is a renewable and sustainable source of power as it is driven by the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun. It has the potential to provide a consistent and predictable source of energy, especially in coastal areas with significant tidal ranges.
Correct Answer: Geothermal energy
Solution : The correct answer is geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy is a renewable source of energy which is generated inside the earth. It is produced by the radioactive day inside the core of earth. When such energy finds its way through the crust, it can be harnessed as a source for power generation. Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, Puga valley in Jammu and Kashmir, Tapovan in Uttarakhand etc are some famous geothermal sites in India.