The word “Biomass” is often associated with a modern way to produce energy from biological materials. But did you know that biomass existed even before humans inhabited the earth? Even the use of biomass is as old as human civilization itself. Biomass is one of the most straightforward ways for humans to produce energy, one example is the use of wood to create fire. This method of using biomass is still very often used to this day by humans to produce heat. This way of biomass utilization to produce energy from organic matter is called traditional biomass, which is different from contemporary biomass, which some people might think of when they hear the word biomass. Then, what are the differences between traditional and contemporary biomass? And why do we have to start making the transition from using traditional biomass to contemporary biomass?
Traditional biomass energy refers to the use of organic matter, such as wood, crop residues, and animal dung, for energy production. It is the oldest form of energy and has been used for thousands of years. Traditional biomass is widely available in many parts of the world, particularly in rural areas where people rely on it for their daily energy needs. However, despite of the efficient use, traditional biomass has several issues, including:
Traditional biomass energy sources, such as wood and charcoal, emit large amounts of smoke and particulate matter when burned. These emissions contribute to outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution which can contribute to the carbon emission that causes global warming. Other than that, traditional biomass energy is also a major cause of deforestation, particularly in developing countries. The use of wood for fuel contributes to the depletion of forests, which has significant environmental consequences, such as loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and climate change.
Traditional biomass is an unsustainable energy source, because the staple material for traditional biomass is generally firewood. This means, the use of traditional biomass on a large scale and long term cannot be realized without deforestation. Traditional biomass can be said to be unsustainable, because the supply of raw materials cannot be produced at a certain rate without causing the depletion of natural resource.
Traditional biomass energy can cause health hazards, particularly for women and children who spend significant amounts of time in poorly ventilated homes. Exposure to indoor air pollution can cause respiratory diseases, eye irritation, and other health problems.
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