Biomass for power and energy generation

Abstract

Biomass is a scientific term for living matter, more specifically any organic matter that has been derived from plants as a result of the photosynthetic conversion process. The word biomass is also used to denote the products derived from living organisms – wood from trees, harvested grasses, plant parts, and residues such as stems and leaves, as well as aquatic plants. The solid biomass processing facility may also generate process heat and electric power. As more efficient bioenergy technologies are developed, fossil fuel inputs will be reduced; biomass and its by-products can also be used as sources for fuelling many energy needs. The energy value of biomass from plant matter originally comes from solar energy through the process known as photosynthesis. In nature, all biomass ultimately decomposes to its elementary molecules with the release of heat. During conversion processes such as combustion, biomass releases its energy, often in the form of heat, and the carbon is re-oxidised to carbon dioxide to replace that which was absorbed while the plant was growing. Essentially the use of biomass for energy is the reversal of photosynthesis.