Burn Waste to Produce Energy

The human race has used wood to make fire for a very long time. It has been our main source of energy for most of our existence and we have used it to cook food and provide heating.

Use is dwindling but burning waste to produce energy has great potential as an energy source. This is particularly important when you consider the amount of waste produced in the modern world, the problems faced with disposal and the effort being put into recycling.

A Biomass Power Station works in a similar way to a coal fired power station. Waste is burned and used to heat water, the steam produced is used to turn turbines, the turbines turn generators and generate electricity. Any solid waste can be used including animal manure, woodchip, seaweed, rubbish and any other waste.

Bio-conversion is a related process where plant/animal waste is used to produce bio-fuels such as methanol or natural gas. These bio-fuels can be burned to produce power and vehicles have been developed powered by bio-fuels

Sugar can be used in a similar way because it can be fermented to make alcohol which can be burned. Alternatively, the left over sugar cane pulp can be burned and often a biomass power station provides energy for a sugar mill as well as the surrounding area.

A Biomass Power Station is planned for Portbury near Bristol which would produce 150 MW of power and this is enough to provide power for two hundred thousand homes. It will burn wood materials brought to the plant by ship from sustainable sources and will annually offset about four hundred thousand tones of carbon dioxide emissions.

Another Biomass Power Station is planned for Longannet in Scotland which will produce 20 MW from wood and waste derived fuel and provide electricity for about thirty three thousand homes. It will also offset one hundred and thirty tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year and prevent one hundred and thirty five tonnes of waste material being disposed in landfill sites.

Bio-fuels could help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and most particularly the oil used for transport which is obviously a good thing.

Some people claim that it will take a huge amount of land to grow the bio-fuels needed and this will affect our capacity to grow food. Bio-fuel powered vehicles produce similar carbon emissions to petrol driven vehicles but scientists argue that the plants growing the bio-fuel will take in the extra carbon emissions produced as they respire. Time will tell on this argument.

We should definitely take the opportunity to burn waste materials whenever we can. It is a very cheap source of fuel and would help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It also destroys waste and reduces the need to recycle. We collect waste anyway and have trouble with disposal.

However, growing bio-fuels could cause problems and some fuels may not always be available. Bio-fuels are burned and still produce greenhouse gases in the same way as fossil fuels.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_M_Williams

I Recommend "The Testament" by John Grisham

In the depths of winter we are all to thinking about lying on a beach with some suitable reading matter. I recommend this. It will provide ideal entertainment for anybody trying to relax and it is tinged with enough wisdom to enrich the minds of anybody looking for more.

I admit I am a big fan of John Grisham and "The Testament" was the first book of his that I read. I was immediately addicted and I have now read the majority of his novels although this one is still my favourite. As with all his books, it has a fast moving plot and works as a terrific thriller in a legal setting but it is still able to show the author's world weary contempt for his former profession and all it represents.

The story concerns an elderly billionaire who, tired of life, draws up a new will then promptly commits suicide. The new will leaves his fortune to a previously unknown, illegitimate daughter and this destroys the hopes and dreams of his entire family including three ex-wives and numerous children.

Legal challenges take place and a search is launched for the missing daughter but the story really concerns the contrasting stories of Nate O'Reilly and Rachel Lane. Nate is the ex-drug addict, recovering alcoholic lawyer dealing with the case while Rachel is the missionary working in Brazil with no knowledge of her inheritance. Through them Grisham conveys his thoughts on the pursuit of money and the meaning of real wealth.

Enjoy your reading.

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