Technical feasibility of using forest biomass for energy Term Paper - 1

Technical feasibility of using forest biomass for energy - Term Paper Example Woody feedstock can be utilized to generate power and useful heat energy. Wood pellets are considered as a renewable energy source as it has low moisture content and give a great amount of thermal energy by a controlled combustion. According to the article â€Å"Wood to Energy: Use of the Forest Biomass for Wood Pellets† (2009), the writer states â€Å"Harvesting debris  or logging residues such as tops, limbs, and roots, and forest understory are promising feedstock alternatives for wood pellets†. Forest’s raw wood and wood from the sustainably managed forests can be utilized to produce wood pellets, which can be burnt on a small or large scale to produce energy (TheBioenergySite.com 2009). In the article â€Å"Sustainable Forest Biomass: Promoting Renewable Energy and Forest Stewardship†, Caputo (2009) writes â€Å"In fact, improved markets for woody biomass have potential to reduce costs associated with hazardous fuels reduction, wildlife habitat man agement, ecosystem restoration, and other proactive stewardship activities† (Caputo 2009). Today the feedstock used for the production of pellets comes from pulpwood chips. Logging residues can be a feedstock for the wood pellets (TheBioenergySite.com 2009). Because the smaller size of a pellet, it can be burnt easily and the residue could be utilized as a fertilizer. The residue which is a charcoal is mixed with soil to increase the water holding capacity of the soil. The produced large amount of energy can be utilized generate large amount power. The main factor that is associated with the wood pallets is that the controlled combustion of the wood pellets costs less as compared to any other conversion. Wood pallets can be gasified to produce synthetic gas which can be a simple process. The wood pallets are heated at a certain temperature. The heating of the wood pallets gives wood gas that is highly combustible gas and is capable of replacing natural gas. The wood gas can be utilized to produce steam in the