What exactly is biomass energy?

Answer 1

The catch-all term biomass includes all the living organisms in an area. Wood, crops and crop waste, and wastes of plant, mineral, and animal matter are part of the biomass. Much of it is in garbage, which can be burned for heat energy, or allowed to decompose and produce methane gas. However, some crops are grown specifically for energy, including sugar cane, sorghum, ocean kelp, water hyacinth, and various species of trees. It has been estimated that 90% of United States waste products could be burned to provide as much energy as 100 million tons of coal (20% will not burn, but can be recycled). In Western Europe, there are over 200 power plants that burn rubbish to produce electricity. Biomass can be converted into biofuels such as biogas or methane, methanol, ethanol, etc. However, the process has been more costly than the congenital fossil fuel processes. Rubbish buried in the ground can provide methane gas through an aerobic decomposition. One ton of refuse can produce 8,000 cubic feet (227 cubic meters) of methane. Worldwide there are 140 such schemes that tap into the underground rubbish "tips".