is stored energy from the sun contained in materials such as
plant matter and animal waste, known as biomass. Biomass is
considered renewable because it is replenished more quickly when
compared to the millions of years required to replenish fossil
fuels. The wide variety of biomass fuel sources includes
agricultural residue, pulp/paper mill residue, urban wood waste,
forest residue, energy crops, landfill methane, and animal
waste. Energy in the form of electricity, heat, steam, and fuels
can be derived from these sources through conversion methods
such as direct combustion and steam turbines, anaerobic
digestion, co-firing, gasification, and pyrolysis. The co-firing
method mixes biomass with coal, and may be the best economic
opportunity for biomass, particularly in combined heat and power
applications, which make the most efficient use of biomass.
Section 1: Bioenergy Basics 2: Types of Biomass 3: A Dash of
Biomass... 4: Ways to Generate Electricity 5: Costs of Bioenergy
7: Barriers To Widespread Use 8: Cu