BIOMASS ENERGY
Biomass energy is produced from organic material that comes from plants and animals. Biomass includes crops, plants, trees, yard clipping, wood chips and animal wastes. Wood accounts for 44% of biomass energy. Chlorophyll present in plants captures the sun's energy by converting carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground into carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. When the plants are burned, the water and carbon dioxide are again released back into the atmosphere. Biomass energy is used for heating and cooking in homes and as a fuel in industrial production.
Advantages of Biomass Energy.
1. Biomass energy is renewable sources of energy as biomass plants utilize leftover wood.
2.It is alternative to fossil fuels.
3. It does not produce carbon. It merely releases the carbon that is already there in the plant or animal waste. In that respect it differs from fossil fuels which generate carbon when burnt.
4.organic waste of plants and animals is readily available in abundance.
5. Instead of being thrown in landfills and polluting the environment, organic wastes is utilised to get energy.
6.Difderent products can be created from different kinds of organic matter. Methane, biodiesel and other boogies can be produced Heat and electricity can be generated with the help of turbines.
Disadvantages of Biomass Energy
1.Biomass energy is not a clean energy as pollution is created from the burning organic waste.
2.In addition to plant and animal waste, healthy trees are often cut and used for the purpose of producing biomass energy. This can lead to deforestation, displacement of people and destruction of the habitat.
3. Biodiesel products like ethanol are inefficient fuels compared to gasoline. The longterm use of ethanol may be harmful to combustion engines.
4. Biomass plants require a lot of space and add to urban congestion when located in cities.
5.The cost of setting up biomass plants is very high.
NUCLEAR ENERGY
Nuclear energy is power released through specific nuclear reactions. This power is then converted to electrical power. There are about 30countries which produce nuclear power. U. S. A produces more electricity through the use of nuclear power than any other nation. It is followed by France, Russia, South Korea, Germany, and China. France derives more than 75% of its energy needs from nuclear power.
Advantage of Nuclear power
1. Nuclear energy is cheap.
2. It is a source of clean energy as relatively low amounts of carbon dioxide are released during the nuclear reactions.
3. The technology is readily available.
Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy.
1. There are major concerns about safety. An accident in a nuclear plant can cause leakage of radioactive material which would have disastrous and long lasting consequences on human beings as well as on the environment. The nuclear plant accident in Fukushima, Japan in 2011 is one such example.
2. Nuclear waste that is generated must be disposed of with extreme care.
3. Nuclear plants can become targets for terrorist.
4. Nuclear energy is not an in exhaustible source of energy. It us produced from uranium which exists in finite quantities in the world.
