Published April 2010 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

The future of biomass energy: A Fermi-calculation perspective

Creators

  • 1. Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63130 (United States)

Description

It is argued: (i) that the harvesting of terrestrial solar radiation to perform useful work is at least an order of magnitude more efficient when carried out by solar-thermal or solar-photovoltaic processes than when carried out by way of biomass conversion and (ii) that, therefore, biomass energy is unlikely to compete successfully with inanimately harvested solar energy-except of course in restricted niche applications.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2009.11.075

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.enpol.2009.11.075;
PII
S0301-4215(09)00925-2;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Energy Policy
Journal Volume
38
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 1672-1674
ISSN
0301-4215
CODEN
ENPYAC

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41087577
Subject category
S14: SOLAR ENERGY; S29: ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
BIOMASS; ENERGY CONVERSION; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT; SOLAR ENERGY; SOLAR RADIATION
Descriptors DEC
CONVERSION; EFFICIENCY; ENERGY; ENERGY SOURCES; PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT; RADIATIONS; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; STELLAR RADIATION

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.