Biomass:

Biomass energy is becoming more important in the growth of todays industry, used more as an alternative energy source reducing dependency on fossil fuels and at the same time greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This in line with the dramatic climatic changes the world is experiencing to the over exploitation of the fossil fuels for energy. Biomass energy has taken the stage to mitigate the reliance on fossil fuels. At the same time being the only renewable energy source available.

The main biomass feedstocks for power today are paper mill residue, timber mill scrap, and municipal waste. For biomass fuels, the most common feedstocks used are corn grain (for ethanol) and soybeans, sugar cane (for biodiesel) and various other vegetable oils. Today large tracks of land globally are used for growing dedicated energy crops, such as fast-growing trees and grasses, and algae.

As Biomass is mainly derived from the plant life and is commonly divided into two categories - Woody and Non-Woody. Woody comprising of Cocont, Oil Palm, Pine and Poplar trees and Non- Woody comprising of Algae, Corn, Grasses, Soyabean,  Bamboo, and Sugar Cane. Vegetable oils are increasingly being cultivated for biofuels.

Types of Biomass:

1.    Sustainable energy crops that don’t compete with food crops for land.

2.   Portions of crop residues such as wheat and straw stover.

3.    Sustainably harvested wood and forest residues.

4.    Clean municipal and industrial wastes.