Energy from Biomass (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

It produces no greenhouse gases

It is always more efficient than fossil fuels

It emits less particulate matter than coal

It is renewable if harvested sustainably

Increased biodiversity

Deforestation and indoor air pollution

Reduced GHG emissions

High capital costs for infrastructure

Biomass doesn’t release carbon when burned

Biomass uses carbon filters to trap CO₂

Biomass is stored underground

Plants absorb CO₂ during growth, offsetting combustion emissions

They are only produced from fossil fuels

They require nuclear reactors to process

They may compete with food crops for land use

They are not renewable

Ethanol

Charcoal

Manure

Peat

Clear-cutting forests for fuel

Planting monoculture crops for ethanol

Using waste biomass and maintaining regrowth cycles

Burning biomass without emissions controls

Wood and agricultural products  

Solid waste  

Nuclear waste  

Alcohol fuels  

Direct combustion by burning biomass to produce heat  

Thermochemical conversion processes such as pyrolysis and gasification to produce liquid or gaseous fuels

Biochemical conversion processes like anaerobic digestion and fermentation to create biofuels

Electromagnetic conversion through the use of magnetic fields to generate energy from biomass

Generating electricity through combustion of biomass

Using algae to produce biodiesel for vehicles

Converting biomass into hydrogen fuel for industrial use

Producing methane from food waste to power homes