Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R

Assertion A: Biomass is considered as carbon neutral.

Reason R: The amount of carbon they emit is equal to the amount of carbon they have consumed during their life-time.

In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below 

The correct answer is option 1) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

Important Point

Assertion A

•  Biomass is an organic matter that can be used as a renewable source of energy. When biomass is burned or decomposed, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
• However, this carbon dioxide is part of the natural carbon cycle, where plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it in their biomass.
  • Therefore, when biomass is burned, it releases carbon dioxide that was previously absorbed from the atmosphere, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
  • This is why biomass is considered carbon neutral. 

Reason R explains this concept correctly.

• The amount of carbon emitted by burning or decomposing biomass is equal to the amount of carbon the plants absorbed from the atmosphere during their lifetime.
• Therefore, Assertion A is correct, and Reason R is the correct explanation of A.​

Key Points

• Biomass energy is formed through photosynthesis.
• Biomass is renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals.
• Biomass contains stored chemical energy from the sun.
• Biomass can be burned, however, it must be dried. This chemical process is called torrefaction.
• Biomass is the only renewable energy source that can be converted into liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.
• Ethanol is made by fermenting biomass that is high in carbohydrates, such as sugar cane, wheat, or corn.
• Biodiesel is made by combining ethanol with animal fat, recycled cooking fat, or vegetable oil.