Biomass
 

What is biomass?
Biomass is a renewable organic material, such as wood, agricultural crop or waste, and municipal waste, used as a source of fuel or energy. Biomass can be burned directly or processed into biofuels such as ethanol and methane.
 

How is biomass created?
Most electricity generated using biomass today is by direct combustion using conventional boilers. These boilers burn primarily waste wood products generated by the agriculture and wood-processing industries.
 

How is biomass used in the production of energy?
When burned, the wood waste produces steam, which is used to spin a turbine. The spinning turbine activates a generator that produces electricity. Biomass can also be gasified prior to combustion. Gases generally burn cleaner and more efficiently than solids, which allows removal of toxic materials. The decay of biomass in landfills produces gas (primarily methane) naturally, which can be harvested and burned in a boiler to produce steam for generating electricity. Gasifiers convert biomass directly into gas, which can be burned to generate electricity.

Additional Information:

Biomass Harvesting and Forest Stewardship: A Healthy Balance
Short Rotation Woody Crops for Biofuels

Woody Biofuels: Past, Present and Future