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Biomass, a renewable energy source, is biological material from living,
or recently living organisms, such as wood, waste, (hydrogen) gas, and
alcohol fuels. Biomass is commonly plant matter grown to generate electricity
or produce heat. In this sense, living biomass can also be included, as
plants can also generate electricity while still alive. The most conventional
way in which biomass is used, however, still relies on direct incineration.
Forest residues, for example (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps),
yard clippings, wood chips and garbage are often used for this. However,
biomass also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers
or chemicals. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be
burnt as fuel. It excludes such organic materials as fossil fuels, which
have been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal
or petroleum.
Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including
miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane,
and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm
oil). The particular plant used is usually not important to the end products,
but it does affect the processing of the raw material.
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