Biomass
Biomass is derived from organic matter. It comes either directly from plant and animal material, or indirectly from material left over from industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic processes.
The intrinsic chemical energy content of biomass is known as bio-energy, which can be converted into heat or electricity in a number of ways.
Types of biomass
Biomass energy comes in three forms:
- Solid biomass - firewood and energy crops (including willow, miscanthus and straw)
- Liquid biofuels - methanol, ethanol and biodiesel
- Biogas - gas from landfill sites and anaerobic digesters, as well as from sewage waste
For more information on these forms of biomass energy, please follow the links on the left.