Biomass is produced from organic materials, either directly from plants or indirectly from industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural products. It is often called ‘bioenergy’ or ‘biofuels’. It doesn’t include fossil fuels, which have taken millions of years to be created.
Biomass fall into two main categories. Woody biomass includes forest products, untreated wood products, energy crops and short rotation coppice (SRC), which are quick-growing trees like willow. Non-woody biomass includes animal waste, industrial and biodegradable municipal products from food processing and high energy crops. Examples are rape, sugar cane and maize.
© Energy Saving Trust 2008