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'Biomass Energy', also known as 'bioenergy', refers to energy that results from the processing of biomass. The term 'biomass' refers to any material that contains plant matter that recently used sunlight to grow. Examples of biomass include plants, wood, agricultural waste, and animal waste.

In its simplest terms, biomass energy comes from the sunlight used by plants to grow. Plants convert sunlight into chemical energy through a process called photosynthesis. Products derived of plant matter, such as paper and wood, retain this chemical energy in their molecular structure. If an animal eats a plant, the animal also absorbs this chemical energy into its body, and expels some of it as waste. These products and waste, because they contain recently converted sunlight, are classified as biomass.

If left unprocessed, biomass breaks down over a long period of time, eventually losing its stored sunlight energy. This is why some organic based fossil fuels such as crude oil are not classed as biomass. However, before this occurs, the breakdown process can be accelerated. The most common method at present is to burn the biomass to create heat. This heat energy can then be harnessed in a variety of ways, much like how we burn coal to create electricity.

In essence, bioenergy is solar energy that plants capture and store, and that ultimately is extracted in the form of heat. It is considered a renewable resource as it is not only derived from plants (which can be regrown), but is also available in a variety of plentiful waste products, such as sewage. It is also considered more environmentally friendly than many conventional forms of energy production, although it too suffers from certain environmental related issues. Nonetheless, in time, it is hoped new and more efficient methods of processing biomass may lead to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly way of meeting our energy needs.

Learn more about this author, Darren Albert.
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