Source: United Nations Environment Programme—Division of Technology,
Industry, and Economics
Figure 8.13 Anaerobic digesterBiomass
Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living, organisms
(e.g., forest residues, yard clippings, and wood chips) that can be burned in large
incinerators to create steam that is used for generating electricity. Industrial
biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants such as switchgrass, hemp,
corn, poplar, willow, sugarcane, and bamboo. Approximately 50% of the world’s
renewable energy supply is derived from biomass.