Biomass – cheap and environmentally friendly fuel

published on 11/18/09 9:21 AM

From wood-processing waste, Bulgaria can produce 13.5 terra watt hours of energy for heating.

Photo: Архив

With the winter approaching, heating becomes a topical issue, quite delicate for Bulgarians. How to have cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly heating? Many a man has asked this question. It turns out there is a solution for the heating problem and it is called biomass having a lot of economic, environmental and social advantages. From wood-processing waste, Bulgaria can produce 13.5 terra watt hours of energy for heating. Data released by the Association of Bulgarian Energy Agencies shows that biomass comprises some 40% of the country’s potential of renewable sources. Biomass consists mainly of wood-processed and agriculture waste. A year ago, the Council of Ministers approved a long-term program to promote the use of biomass for the period 2008 – 2020. The programs points out that by 2020, about 38% of biomass or the equivalent of 837,000 tons of oil, will be used for the production of electricity and heating.

“Biomass is a renewable source of energy that has been used by mankind from very early times,” says Zdravko Georgiev, deputy chairman of the Association of Bulgarian Energy Agencies. Here is more from him:

“The advantages of biomass as a source of energy consist in the fact that it is everywhere around us. It can practically replace fossil fuels which are much more expensive and cause global warming. In Bulgaria, low-efficient technologies for burning wood in stoves and fireplaces are still widespread. Recently hay and wood-waste coal-cakes have been introduced to the market. They are easy to transport and store, contain much less water – up to 10% maximum and can be used in heating plants for the production of heating for mass consumption.

The first large heating plant in Bulgaria that uses biomass has been built in the winter resort of Bansko in Southern Bulgaria. Its output capacity is 10 megawatts and supplies hearing to private mansions, hotels, residential and administrative buildings, churches, schools and kindergartens in the region, hospitals and the local museum. In February 2009, a similar heating system was introduced in the town of Ihtiman in Western Bulgaria. Fossil fuels and wood were replaced by biomass. The price of heating produced through biomass has dropped down significantly and is much lower than the one with fossil fuels. Alongside this advantage, the production of coal-cakes creates more jobs for the local population. The environmental impact is also very important – biomass is a renewable energy source. “If the entire cycle of biomass growth, production and use is taken into account, we’d see that green-house gas emissions are 0,” says Zdravko Georgiev and adds:

“When using conventional fossil fuels such as coals and oil, it is proven that they emit dioxins and furans and cause cancer. There is no such danger when using biomass. Practically, the collection of biomass also reduces the danger of wild fires. While producing biomass, we clear the woods from sick and old trees and collect leaves and branches. All this improves the condition of the forest,” says Zdravko Georgiev in conclusion.

English version: Delian Zahariev

По публикацията работи: Darina Grigorova

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Biomass – cheap and environmentally friendly fuel

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