Green energy has become a major talking point amongst politicians, energy companies and consumers alike. And with the recent opening of the UK’s first biomass power station, the idea of generating power by using waste products – in this case waste from the wood industry – could soon become a reality, and help provide more homes with affordable energy resources.

As energy prices around the world spiral out of control, many electricity and gas suppliers are now turning to green energy sources – such as wind turbines – in order to try and help reduce the carbon offset levels around the world.

With research into ways of harvesting natural energy – such as osmosis of salt water, tidal generators and the replacement of petrol with ‘biofuels’ – there could be hope on the horizon, even if large-scale operations using such resources are still a long way away.

Harvesting green energy may not be a new concept – for you’ve probably seen solar panels on the sides of houses when you’ve holidayed in a hot country – the idea of using natural resources to generate cheap electricity is a growing trend. With a variety of different do-it-yourself kits now available on the market, there is a potential to save money on energy bills by using alternative energy sources, but also to make a little money for yourself by selling excess electricity back to energy suppliers.

If you’re thinking of installing devices such as small wind turbines or solar panels, it is very advisable to check with your local authority or council, informing them of such works so they can evaluate if your property is suitable for such changes.

With the recent introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPS) it’s always best to make sure before committing to such building work, for what may seem a good idea at the time could turn into a disaster for the value of your property. And whilst the days of a cheap gas bill might seem a thing of the past as energy prices are constantly fluctuating, green energy techniques could soon become commonplace in our towns and cities.

And with more being done to educate us on using our resources wisely, many of us are now being encouraged to think about using certain appliances and ensuring that we reduce our ‘carbon footprints.’

Biofuel production with the help of membrane filtration technology is not entirely new technology as some think it is. In fact we are talking here about tried and proved industrial method that has been utilized in many industrial facilities, and after many positive experiences has been now implemented in biofuels production.

Many energy experts expect that with the help of membrane filtration technology “second-generation” cellulosic ethanol production could be significantly improved, especially in terms of fuel recovery as well as getting as much as possible secondary products from the used feedstock. To put things as simply as possible this new technology should mostly help improve the efficiency of biofuel production by offering lower overall energy costs.

The things you need to know about the membranes used in this process is that they are highly engineered, and they are designed to allow the passage of materials only up to a certain size and shape. As said above the process of membrane filtration has been used extensively in several different industry facilities for many years. The best examples to mention here would be sugar, food, wine, and similar other enzyme manufacturing sectors.

But let us get back to biofuel production. Membrane filtration technology is becoming very important in production of biodiesel, where membranes are used to facilitate water reuse, this is especially helpful in areas where water is scarce..

Energy experts expect that within this decade we will see lot more biofuel facilities that will use this process for biofuel production. This should also increase the popularity of biodiesel and other biofuels on global level.

If you have mastery over the basic skills required to produce biofuel, you can definitely save a lot of money. It is very important to learn about the equipments and the materials required in producing biofuels. You can also make a business out of it selling bio-fuels. Once you have the fundamental principle of how to produce biofuel, it will seem to be an easy task for you. To produce bio-fuel, the materials and the equipments required can be easily availed from online, a nearby hardware store or even in the grocery. You would also require some chemicals used to transfer the waste veggie oil, which is the main ingredient, into this safe form of fuel.

To proceed, make sure that you have a regular supply of used vegetable oil. You can get it from a nearest restaurant by making proper arrangements with the manager. Once this is done, you will need a bio-diesel kit. You can assemble a bio-diesel kit or even order it online. The various parts and accessories are easy to find. You will also have to arrange some reagents like methanol and sodium hydroxide, to produce this fuel. In the process, the veggie oil is mixed with the catalysts (methanol and lye). After proper washing and filtration, this mixture turns veggie oil into fuel, which is perfect for a diesel engine.

I think I have given you a proper summary on how to produce bio-fuels. Once you have mastered the art of producing bio-fuel, you would be able to power up your engines, besides selling the leftovers.

Biofuels like ethanol get a positive response in society and the mainstream media. It would have to do with the idea that it helps the environment, but does biofuel really help that much? Does biofuel help the economy? When I look at it, I see a negative effect.

Ethanol is a fuel produced from corn. Currently gasoline in the United States are required to have 5.9% ethanol in the gasoline. The problem that exists is that regular gas is much cheaper than the cost of producing ethanol from corn to meet the demand of gas consumption. The government currently hands out corporate welfare to farmers and other related businesses to produce this inefficient product. Tax payers are forced to pay for this, while they have no added benefit at the gas pumps. Farmers today can barely keep up with the demand of gasoline, which in itself, drives up the prices.

Ethanol also has another effect and that is on the price of food grown. Farmers are jumping into growing corn because there is money in it and they also get a nice big check from the government. This leaves other foods not grown, while demand for this food is the same. If you take a look at the price of corn at the store, or flour, you’ll see that the prices have jumped. Flour is in a lot of products, so you probably noticed bread has gone up. Currently people in South East Asia are starving because they can’t afford rice.

As much as I disagree with environmentalists on global warming, they do confess that 5.9% ethanol in gas isn’t going to stop global warming. It’s like a drop in a lake. We’ll never be able to produce enough ethanol to put in gas where it would make any sort of impact. Why do we do it than? It costs us more taxes handing out corporate welfare. It costs us more at the pump. It costs us more with our food. It has no environmental benefits.

What is the point? I don’t know, but there is absolutely no benefit to the economy or the consumers out there. People are feeling the pinch and it comes from simplistic government policies that generate no results environmentally or economically.

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Biomass energy can be used in different ways. This article explains its four different categories: the biopower, biofuels, bioproducts and space heating as well as cooling.

First is the biopower. Hydropower is perhaps the only renewable source of energy which is used more than biopower. Biomass is actually produced by direct combustion with the help of conventional boilers that will designed to burn waste wood stuff. The steam which is being produced by that combustion, leads the turbine to spins and activates the generator that produces the electricity.

Second is the biofuels. Ethanol and biodiesel are the two mostly available biofuels. Ethanol is generally prepared from the starch which is present in the corn grain which are then added into petroleum-based fuels for the reduction of toxic air emissions as well as increasing the percentage of octane. This is available as a commercial fuel and you can find it with the name of E-85. This fuel type consists of nearly 83% of ethyl alcohol during summer season and near about 70% during the winters.

On the other side, biodiesel, which is also a nice renewable alternative is made mostly from soybean oil. Although it is not quite popular as compared to ethanol yet it has noteworthy benefits to air quality. The biodiesel when mixed with petroleum deisel in 20%, it is then referred to as B-20. With the same process of creating biofuels, it can also be used to create antifreeze, glues, plastics, artificial sweeteners as well as toothpaste gels. When biomass turned to gas prior to the combustion, it removes those toxic materials.

Third is the bioproducts. Created generally from the fossil fuels, bioproducts require a small amount of energy for production as compared to petroleum based products. Excess of the two gases will be produced in case of the presence of oxygen in biomass heating. The process is known as biosynthesis. This is also useful in creating photographic films. Moreover, when biomass will be heated in the absence of oxygen, we get the pyrolysis oil.

Lastly is the space heating and cooling which accounts for over 56% of the energy which renders it the largest energy expense for majority of homes. Thus, it is still crucial to research on the most effective ways in utilizing renewable energy…

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There are many different ways to use biomass energy. Today, we are going to look at four different categories: biofuels, biopower, bioproducts, and space heating and cooling.

Biofuels

The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. The most familiarly used form of ethanol is made from the starch in corn grain, and it is added into petroleum-based fuels to reduce toxic air emissions and increase octane. It is also available as an alternative fuel known as E-85. This type of fuel contains 83% ethanol during the summer and 70% in the winter.

Biodiesel, on the other hand, is made from soybean oil. Though not as popular as its ethanol counterpart, it has significant benefits to air quality. Biodiesel is usually mixed at 20% with petroleum diesel, and it is called B-20. The same process that is used to create biofuels can also be used to create antifreeze, plastics, glues, artificial sweeteners and toothpaste gels.

Biopower/Biopower

The only renewable electrical generation that is used more than biopower is hydropower. Biomass is created using direct combustion using conventional boilers that burn waste wood products. Steam is produced by this combustion, which, in turn, spins a turbine, activating a generator that creates electricity.

When biomass is turned to gas prior to this combustion, toxic materials are removed from the process. These systems are useful for powering isolated communities with electricity. There are significant amounts of biomass resources in the eastern half of the United States.

Bioproducts

Bioproducts are products that can be made from fossil fuels. These products general require a reduced amount of energy to create than petroleum-based products. If oxygen is present when heating biomass, more of the two gases produced. This process is called biosynthesis, and it can be utilized to create plastics and acids. These, in turn, can be used to create photographic films, textiles, and synthetic fabrics.

On the other hand, when biomass is heated without oxygen, pyrolysis oil is formed and phenol can be extracted from this formation. Wood adhesives, molded plastics, and foam insulation can then be created from phenol.

Space Heating and Cooling

“Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical US home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes.” Because there are many options available in regards to heating and cooling, it is important to research the most efficient ways to utilize renewable energy. Whether you are installing the systems into a new home, or replacing the systems in an existing home, numerous choices are at your disposal.

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Due to the economic downslide of recent years, finding funding for renewable energy projects is harder than ever. The current trend in the sustainable energy sector involves companies virtually waiting for the right kind of financing to come through for their projects. Whether they end up being funded by the federal government, state grants or bank-financed loans, a lot of environmental-development projects are being put on the back burner until the economy bounces back. For small businesses to get the right financing from banks, the banks also want to see evidence that these bioenergy companies will be successful. But it is hard to prove something like that when the bioenergy revolution is fairly new and hasn’t gained much exposure. In addition, these small businesses don’t have the funds to advertise or really make themselves known. While banks are interested in advanced environmental technologies to some degree, they are also hesitant to invest in a startup venture involving bioenergy-these projects are viewed as being a high risk in the eyes of most banks.

While awaiting funds, these companies often change their development plans. In order to remedy this situation that arises for bioenergy start-ups in need of funding for newly developing projects, companies have tried obtaining loans from banks for a portion of the overall project cost. For example, the U.S. based company, Seneca BioEnergy, was in need of an estimated $40 million to construct an Agbio facility along with equipment. This company decided to pursue a loan of just $5 to $10 million to fund a portion of the project. This ensured that the company was not just simply waiting without moving forward on their bioenergy plans, they could at least get started on a portion of the project.

For businesses in the United States, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and federal lawmakers are all legitimate sources for locating the appropriate funding for bioenergy start-up projects. Grant funding is another source of capital for bioenergy businesses.

A company like Bluefire Ethanol, which was listed as one of the “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy,” has been awarded a series of grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. The company was selected as one of four to construct a cellulosic ethanol production facility on a commercial scale-to be completely funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Environmental Protection Agency has also recently awarded $2.83 million to 34 different endeavors within the Small Business Innovative Research program, four of which fall under the biofuels and vehicle emissions category for research and development firms working on technology related to biofuels.

In Europe, small businesses looking to develop in the bioenergy industry might be able to secure funding through their national government. However, many still face the same problem as do companies within the U.S.-with an uncertain economy, investments in unfamiliar business ventures are few and far between. One way for businesses to get in front of major decision-makers is to attend some of the world bioenergy conferences or expos that offer businesses the opportunity to demonstrate and speak about their bioenergy technologies and capabilities. In such a setting, businesses have an open forum and the ear of potential investors. In addition, financers have the opportunity to learn about bioenergy and the huge promise this field holds for the future. For example, the European Bioenergy Conference held in Brussels, Belgium from 30 June to 1 July 2010 offers a platform for this type of interaction between innovative bioenergy business prospects and investors.

In Canada, a major source of funding for small businesses in need of support for bio energy enterprises is Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). According to a press release issued in February 2010, “Since its creation in 2001, SDTC has allocated $464 million to 183 clean technology projects.” Start-up bioenergy businesses can send the SDTC a ‘statement of interest’ outlining what funding is required. The SDTC is a non-profit organization that was initiated by the Canadian government to provide grants for Canada groups at the pre-commercial phase.

One exciting promise for the future of bioenergy companies is included in President Obama’s commitment to making bio-fuels a primary component of the future energy enterprises of America. He has pledged to follow through on the plan laid out by the Renewable Fuels Standard, which calls for U.S. production of biofuels to triple by 2022. Obama has stated, “There shouldn’t be any doubt that renewable, home-grown fuels are a key part of our strategy for a clean energy future.” Hopefully, this type of thinking will continue to spread around the world.

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What is Biomass?

To better understand the advantages and disadvantages of biomass, one must first know what the term means. When an alternative fuel is created, there must be a beginning source for the alcohol. Currently, the most common sources are corn and soybeans, but algae are gaining quickly. Corn and soybeans have much the same set of pros and cons. Algae, on the other hand, is a star player that may be the best of all.

Corn and Soybeans – Good or Bad?

While fossil fuels are the worst source of energy, corn and soybeans would have to fall in close behind. This is not because they are not beneficial to the environment, but rather because of the net energy gain these sources create. A good biomass will result in the production of energy that outweighs the energy needed to produce the fuel in the first place. This cannot be said for corn and soybeans.

Algae – The New Guy

Using algae as biomass is a relatively new concept, but one that people are quickly learning to love. Algae have the ability to produce 100 times more fuel per acre than any other biomass currently being used. This certainly pushes algae into the upper echelon of competition.

Without the positive benefit of net energy gain, manufacturing biofuels is all for the crowd. The Earth and human race need a source of fuel that will cost less, environmentally, than the energy it gives and currently biomass sources do not fulfill that need.

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A debate has erupted over the movement toward-and heavy subsidization of-biofuels in general, and ethanol in particular. Key issues include the diverting of food crops to produce ethanol rather than food, the economics of production of ethanol as a fuel, the net energy gained, and the greenhouse gas emissions caused. Let’s look at some of these pros and cons in more detail.

Here is The Good. Ethanol is a fuel we can produce now with existing technology, and there are some valid reasons to produce it. One cited benefit is that ethanol is a domestically produced fuel, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. This is indisputable. Every gallon of fuel ethanol replaces a something less than a gallon of gasoline that otherwise would come from Middle Eastern oil. Irrespective of net energy arguments, importing less oil is a good thing for the USA. A second touted benefit is economic. While ethanol is not competitive with oil at under $40 per barrel, it does put a cap on the price of oil as long as we have a sufficient supply of ethanol to use. This would support an argument for some subsidies so that ethanol is maintained as a credible substitute for oil, thus representing a constant economic threat to the oil cartel.

But then there is The Bad. The main problem currently is that most ethanol used in the USA is derived from corn. Thus, there is upward pressure on food prices due to diverting corn to produce fuel ethanol rather than food and diverting land from any food production to cultivate more of that corn. This should only be a temporary condition, however. Virtually everyone realizes that producing ethanol from corn is not a tenable long-term strategy, but rather, is a stop-gap measure to be used to provide ethanol until the cellulose-based technology has been sufficiently developed. Within 2-5 years, the displacement of corn by cellulose-based technology should be taking place, and upward pressure on food prices due to fuel ethanol production will abate.

Economics are different matter. Ethanol has only about 60% the fuel value of gasoline; thus, based on energy content measurements, we need about 1.6 gallons of ethanol to equal one gallon of gasoline. Based on current production methods, the cost of glucose (derived from corn) to produce 1 gallon of ethanol is about 0.80-1.00. Adding costs to isolate and refine the ethanol, the overall cost rises to about $1.40/gallon, which after adjusting for the lower fuel value translates to about $2.24 per gallon equivalent of gasoline, and a bit higher cost once it gets to the pump. Improvements will be made, but ethanol is not yet on an economic par with petroleum-derived gasoline as a transportation fuel. Ethanol does, however, place an upward limit on what gasoline can cost as long as ethanol is readily available to substitute for gasoline. Regardless of what the ethanol producers claim, I would estimate that, realistically, ethanol can be competitive only when gasoline is at or above $2.50 per gallon at the gas station.

Finally, there is The Ugly. Ethanol is also not as easily transported as gasoline due to its tendency to absorb water from the atmosphere and to be corrosive. It is, in fact, illegal as well as unworkable to use ethanol as an aviation fuel for this reason, and car engines require modification to use ethanol in blends higher than about 15%. Existing pipeline infrastructure cannot be used. This increases the impracticality of ethanol as a transportation fuel, and argues for other fuel compounds that do not have these problems-higher alcohols or hydrocarbons, all of which can also be produced by the fermentation of sugars derived from cellulose (or corn). The significant drawbacks lead to the inescapable conclusion that that ethanol will be substantially replaced as a fuel as soon as efficient processes to produce alternative materials from cellulosics, such as butanol or hydrocarbons, have been developed.

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With all this talk of the rising cost of energy and oil prices – as well as the never-ending debate of climate change – many are turning to alternative methods of generating power in order to save money on their utility bills.

There are a wide range of methods for harvesting natural energy – such as wind power, with some even converting their car engines to run off reprocessed vegetable oil, or biofuel.

Choosing to generate power from natural resources is by no means cheap, however the long term benefits still attract many to the idea in many ways – from setting up turbines at their homes to recycling materials.

There are many companies which specialize in products that capture and convert energy from natural resources, including solar power.

As technology advances, the methods of capturing natural energy have the potential to become smaller, lighter and more affordable to run.

Wind turbines have remained a much discussed alternative energy technique, with a mixed reaction from the public regarding the construction of turbines to help reduce levels of carbon emissions from power stations.

However, home turbines and solar panels are now becoming a popular addition to households who are looking to save money on their gas and electricity bills.

Indeed, many countries in the Mediterranean region make use of solar panels to help power houses and businesses.

You may think that in a country such as the UK, where the sun appears to elude us at times this could seem pretty useless. However, solar panels are not dependent on hot weather, for a small amount of energy can still be generated just from normal daylight alone.

And the equipment itself is getting lighter, meaning that installation can be simplified because of the reduction in weight. However it is still advisable to seek advice from a surveyor before deciding to install solar panels.

With the credit crunch causing increases in everything from credit cards to gas and electricity bills, people are looking for more affordable means of generating their own power in order to cut down on their utility bills.

Wind turbines store energy from a rotor, where power is generated as the blades are turned. Energy that is harvested through home turbine kits can be used as part of the energy used in your home.

Some energy companies will offer the opportunity to reduce the cost of your electricity bill by giving some of the energy back to the grid.

However it’s best to check with your neighbours before taking the decision to install a small unit on the side of your property – for what may be saving money for yourself may be considered an eyesore by others.

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