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Biomass
Biomass fuels are organic materials produced in a renewable manner. Two categories of biomass fuels, woody fuels and animal wastes, comprise the vast majority of available biomass fuels. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is also a source of biomass fuel. Biomass fuels have low energy densities compared to fossil fuels
Biomass is food for the next trophic level in a food chain.
It can also be used as a source of renewable energy, to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and to help reduce air pollution. Using biomass as fuel still puts carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, but it's the same carbon dioxide taken from the air as the biomass was produced. The use of biomass for energy production is carbon neutral.
Examples of biomass
| Examples |
Processing |
Use |
| Biogas |
Bacteria break down sewage in a digester |
The methane in biogas can be used as a fuel for heating homes |
| Bioethanol |
Yeast breaks down the sugar in sugar cane to produce alcohol |
Bioethanol is used in Brazil to fuel cars |
| Fast-growing timber |
Trees such as willow can be burned in power stations |
Electricity is generated using renewable biomass instead of fossil fuels |