What is biomass?

Biomass refers to living and recently dead biological material which can be used as fuel for industrial production. Biomass refers to plant matter and animal matter used for the production of fibres, chemicals or heat.

Sources of biomass energy lead to agricultural crop residues, energy plantations and municipal and industrial wastes.

How does it work?

Biomass is part of the carbon cycle, carbon from the atmosphere is converted into biological matter by photosynthesis. When something decays, the carbon goes back into the atmosphere or soil.

Advantages

• It makes sense to use the waste that is already here
• The fuel tends to be cheap
• There is less demand of the world's resources

Disadvantages

• Collecting the waste in quantities can be awkward
• We burn fuel so it makes greenhouse gases
• Some of the waste materials are not available all year round