Wind, Geothermal, and Biomass Energy Explained

Wind Energy

Benefits of Wind Energy

• It is a clean, free, and inexhaustible resource.

Drawbacks of Wind Energy

• Manufacturing requires large and expensive machinery.
• Production is discontinuous, leading to challenges with energy storage and transportation.
• Wind can carry abrasive particles that may damage turbine blades.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is the heat stored in the Earth's interior, originating from volcanism and the radioactivity of rocks.

Operating Methods

It operates by using liquid or gaseous water that flows naturally to the surface or by harnessing the increasing temperature observed at depth within the Earth.

Types of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is categorized as either high-temperature or low-temperature.

High-Temperature Geothermal

This type exists in zones with high-temperature magma (150-500°C) at depths ranging from 1,500 to 10,000 meters, covered by a heat-impervious layer. In these areas, a water reservoir can flow through pores and cracks. The hot water, as steam, drives a turbine-generator group where electrical energy is produced.

Low-Temperature Geothermal

If the temperature is below 150°C, the hot water is generally used for domestic and industrial heating.

Advantages of Geothermal Energy

• It is a clean energy source.
• It provides a regular and consistent supply.
• It is practically inexhaustible.

Drawbacks of Geothermal Energy

• Usable areas are limited to regions of high geological activity.
• Power plants can have a significant impact on the landscape.

Biomass Energy

What is Biomass?

Biomass is all organic matter of vegetable or animal origin, including materials derived from it through natural or artificial changes. This living material is synthesized by plants through a process called photosynthesis, which takes place in the presence of sunlight.

Biomass Sources

• Agricultural waste
• Forestry waste from pruning or clearing forests
• Industrial waste
• Energy crops

Thermochemical Methods

Direct Combustion

This involves burning biomass in the presence of oxygen to release heat, which can be used in homes, industries, and other applications.

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is the decomposition of biomass at high temperatures (around 500°C) in the absence of oxygen, typically carried out in installations called gas generators.

Biochemical Methods

These include alcoholic fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and the photoproduction of fuels.

Alcoholic Fermentation

This is the transformation of carbohydrates into ethanol in the absence of O₂.