Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is generated by burning organic matter from plants and animals to create steam that turns a turbine to drive a generator. 

There are a few different sources of biomass fuels:

• Wood

• Energy crops

• Agricultural residue

• Oil-rich algae

• Organic components of industrial and municipal solid waste 

This renewable energy source is a reliable alternative to fossil fuels, but it is quite expensive and has some other drawbacks. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy.

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What are the pros and cons of biomass energy?

When looking at renewable energy sources, it’s important to look at all of their advantages and disadvantages. The following table outlines some of the biggest pros and cons of biomass energy:

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Advantages of biomass energy

Biomass energy is a renewable, reliable source that could help reduce waste worldwide. Let’s explore all of biomass energy’s advantages.

Biomass energy is a renewable source 

Biomass energy is a renewable resource, meaning it doesn’t deplete as it is used. For example, harnessing solar energy doesn’t make the sun shine any brighter, and harnessing wind energy doesn’t make it any less windy.

Biomass energy is harnessed mostly by burning organic material derived from plants and animals. Since biomass supply can be regenerated within a human lifetime, it is considered a renewable source.

Reliable source

Unlike solar and wind energy, which depend on the weather, biomass energy is a reliable source that can produce electricity whenever needed. 

Bioenergy power plants can generate electricity anytime to meet demand as long as biomass material is available. 

Waste reduction

Municipal solid waste, also known as garbage, can produce usable energy. Discarded trash is removed from landfills and processed at waste-to-energy biomass plants, which contributes to waste reduction.

Materials, including paper, cardboard, food waste, grass clippings, wood pellets, wood waste, leaves, and leather products, can all be used to produce biomass energy. 

As society continues to produce more waste, biomass energy plants could lower stress on landfills while meeting increasing energy demands. 

In 2018, it was reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 292 million tons of municipal solid waste in the United States was processed in waste-to-energy plants. 

Abundant source 

Another great advantage of biomass energy is that it's such an abundant source of energy. A growing amount of organic material is produced every day. You can find sources for biomass nearly anywhere on the planet, meaning biomass won't have the issue of limited availability like fossil fuels do.

However, biomass needs to be responsibly managed to keep its abundant supply well-stocked. If the biomass supply doesn't meet the demand, resources could be limited while waiting for the supply to replenish itself. 

Carbon-neutral

Carbon dioxide emissions are one of the driving forces behind climate change. Fortunately, bioenergy is considered a carbon-neutral energy source because, unlike fossil fuels, the carbon it gives off fits into the natural carbon cycle. 

This means that the carbon released into the atmosphere from burning biomass sources is the same amount plants absorb during their lifecycle. Therefore, burning biomass doesn't release any "new" carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

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Disadvantages of biomass energy

Although biomass comes with plenty of advantages, using it as a source is expensive, requires space to harness, has negative environmental impacts, and it can be considered inefficient.

Expensive source of energy

The production of biomass energy can come with a high price tag. Biomass can only be utilized on a utility scale, meaning using this energy source requires building large biomass energy plants. These plants cost millions of dollars and take years to plan and develop. 

According to 2022 EIA data, the levelized cost of energy for biomass plants is about $90 per megawatt-hour (MWh). To put that into perspective, the LCOE of utility-scale solar energy projects is about $24 to $96 per MWh. So, most solar energy on the lower end of the scale is cheaper than biomass.

Emits greenhouse gasses

Although biomass energy is carbon-neutral, it still releases some greenhouse gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere. When biomass is burned, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and methane are all released. 

On the other hand, renewable resources like solar and wind don't release any gasses when producing power. 

Requires space

As mentioned before, biomass energy can only be harnessed on a large scale, meaning power plants must be developed. Typical biomass plants are larger than 15 MW in size – that’s a lot of occupied space!

Due to the size of these large-scale facilities, it’s difficult to find suitable locations. Residential PV solar can be installed on just about any rooftop, making it a more accessible source. 

Environmental impact

Although biomass energy is renewable, it isn’t the most environmentally friendly option. The biggest source of biomass is wood and forestry, and as biomass plants require more materials, forests could be cut down at faster rates, leading to deforestation.

Another big biomass source is algae, which requires large amounts of phosphorus fertilizers to produce the amount of algae needed. Overusing fertilizers can cause serious damage to local waterways and other wildlife.

Inefficient source

Biomass energy is less efficient than other energy sources. In many cases, burning the organic material takes more energy than the process produces. 

If energy demand is high, there’s often not enough production to support it. New technologies will need to emerge to make biomass more efficient if we want to use it on a larger scale.

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Is biomass renewable?

Yes, biomass is a renewable energy source. 

Renewable resources describe energy sources that naturally replenish themselves within a human lifetime. Since biomass material derives from plant and animal matter, both can regrow and replenish themselves within a lifetime. 

Fossil fuels are considered a nonrenewable resource because they derive from decomposed organic matter and take millions of years to form. As we use more of our fossil fuel reserves, less will be available in the future.

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How does biomass energy work?

There are several ways to release the energy stored in biomass materials to produce energy:

• Burning: Biomass (most commonly wood chips or pellets) is burned in a boiler to produce high-pressure steam to rotate turbine blades.

• Bacterial decomposition (Anaerobic digestion): Waste material is collected in oxygen-free tanks called digesters. Anaerobic bacteria decompose the material to produce methane and other byproducts, which form renewable natural gas. The gas can then be purified and used to generate electricity.

• Liquid fuel or gas conversion: Biomass material can be converted to a gaseous or liquid fuel by exposing solid biomass material to high temperatures with little oxygen to produce synthesis gas. This gas is then burned in a conventional boiler to produce electricity or fuel furnaces, turbines, or engines.

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Is biomass energy used in the U.S.?

Biomass energy is used across the United States. According to the EIA, biomass was actually the largest source of annual U.S. energy consumption until the mid-1800s! In 2023, biomass accounted for about 5% of the country’s primary energy consumption. 

Over 600 power plants in the United States currently use some form of biomass energy. The largest biomass power plants operating in the country are the Nacogdoches Generating Facility in Texas and the Deerhaven Renewable Generating Station in Florida, both with 115 MW of power capacity.

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The future of biomass energy

There is no doubt that biomass energy is one of the few options for replacing fossil fuels. 

If new technologies are developed to make the process more efficient, the use of biomass energy has serious potential. For now, it comes with a big set of drawbacks that make it difficult for it to be widely implemented. 

If you’re looking for a way to use the power of renewable and clean energy, you should consider making the switch to solar. Not only do solar panels decrease your carbon footprint, they can eliminate your electric bill! 

Use our solar panel calculator to find out how much you can save when you power your home with solar.

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