BIOMASS AT A GLANCE
WHAT IS BIOMASS?
Biomass is any organic matter wood, crops, seaweed, animal wastes that
can be used as an energy source. Biomass is probably our oldest source of
energy after the sun. For thousands of years, people have burned wood to heat
their homes and cook their food.
Biomass gets its energy from the sun. All organic matter contains stored energy
from the sun. During a process called photosynthesis, sunlight gives plants the
energy they need to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugars.
These sugars, called carbohydrates, supply plants and the animals that eat
plants with energy. Foods rich in carbohydrates are a good source of energy for
the human body.
Biomass is a renewable energy source because its supplies are not limited.

We
can always grow trees and crops, and waste will always exist.
We use four types of biomass today—wood and agricultural products,solid waste, landfill gas and Biogas, and
alcohol fuels (like Ethanol or Bio-diesel).
Most biomass used today is home grown energy. Wood—logs, chips, bark, and
sawdust accounts for about 44 percent of biomass energy. But any organic
matter can produce biomass energy. Other biomass sources can include
agricultural waste products like fruit pits and corncobs.
Wood and wood waste are used to generate electricity. Much of the electricity is
used by the industries making the waste; it is not distributed by utilities, it is a
process called co-generation. Paper mills and saw mills use much of their waste
products to generate steam and electricity for their use. However, since they use
so much energy, they need to buy additional electricity from utilities.
(sources wood pellets)