Bio-energy
Also called: Biomass energy · Topic: Energy Resources of India: Conventional and Non-conventional · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 5 "Mineral and Energy Resources"
Meaning
Bio-energy is energy from biological material. This includes crop residues (stalks and husks left after harvest) and city, industrial and other wastes. The material can be burnt, or allowed to rot, and turned into electricity, heat or cooking gas. It has several benefits. It gets rid of waste, raises rural incomes, reduces pollution and lowers pressure on forests for fuelwood. NCERT Class 12 treats it as a non-conventional energy source.
Example
The Okhla waste-to-energy plant in Delhi burns city garbage to make electricity. It also shows a problem: local people have complained about its emissions.
Don't confuse with
- Biogas: one form of bio-energy. It is the methane-rich gas from rotting waste. Bio-energy is the wider term that also covers burning waste for power.
- Firewood and dung cake: traditional fuels burnt directly in homes. NCERT counts them as conventional sources. They pollute, and burning dung wastes manure.