Alternative energy, a gateway to the future and elimination of dependence on limited fuel resources. Oil is a finite resource and the world is in constant need of it. Transportation, heat and electricity are all powered by this substance. If everyone draws from a well, it will eventually dry up. While some are turning to the sun, hydrogen or electricity to power vehicles, a quicker solution would be to turn to nature itself. Biomass and biofuels exist all around us and they contain unleashed potential. ​​Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Biomass comes from living or recently living organisms. Biomass or biological material more often refers to plant or plant-derived materials. This form of renewable energy can be exploited in two distinct ways. The first process is combustion. The second process builds on the first. Once the biomass has undergone the combustion process, it can be refined into different forms of “biofuel”. There are three forms of combustion that can be used to convert biomass into a usable form of energy. Thermal or thermal conversion is the process of using heat as the primary mechanism to convert biomass into biofuel. Chemical conversion involves a range of different sub-processes, but gasification is the most common form. Biochemical conversion uses the natural method of breaking down materials through the use of enzymes and other microorganisms. From there, the fuel can be separated into two different categories, first and second generation. First generation biofuels came from sugar cane, corn starch and other natural elements. The sugars contained in these fuels are used in the production of bioethanol. Bioethanol can be used in fuel cells and provide an alternative to gasoline. Second generation biofuels are made up of lignocellulosic biomass or dry plant material such as wood. Although it is the most widely used biofuel, technological problems prevent this biofuel source from being used more often. Issues such as chemical inertia and structural rigidity need to be further controlled. What makes second generation biomass a better form of biofuel is our ability to mass produce it. Products such as miscanthus, switchgrass, corn, hemp and bamboo can all be grown relatively quickly to support the fuel and energy industry. All living things that make up biomass and biofuels go through what is called carbon fixation, which is part of the carbon fixation process. carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide along with other molecules such as nitrous oxide and water vapor constitute what are known as greenhouse gases. Regarding carbon dioxide levels in the ozone layer, it is said that a proper balance is needed to stop the progression of global warming. There are two sides to the question of whether or not biofuels can balance or further damage the ozone layer. Research indicates that biomass fuel releases higher levels of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides than standard sources of coal and natural gas. The second theory states that biomass fuel will reduce the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.