Biomass is a fuel that is developed from organic materials. It is a renewable and sustainable source of energy used to create electricity or other forms of power. Scrap lumber, Forest debris, certain crops manure, and some types of waste residues are few examples of Biomass sources.
The organic material is converted into usable form known as bio-energy. The materials used in the process of energy production are termed as feedstock.
To better understand biomass, we will explore the various sources first.
Biomass production refers to the increase in the amount of organic matter. It is the addition of organic matter in a given area or population. Biomass is considered renewable energy because it is replenished as plants and animals grow.
There are two forms of production −
Primary production refers to the generation of energy by plants through photosynthesis. The excess energy generated is stored and adds up to the total biomass in the ecosystem. Primary production could be estimated from the total forest cover in a given year.
Secondary production is the absorption of organic matter as body tissues by organisms. It includes ingestion by animals i.e. feeding, whether on other animals or on plants. It also involves decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms. Secondary production could be estimated as the total meat produced per year.
Though biomass could be measured as mass of organisms living and dead in a given environment, production is harder to estimate. It can only be estimated as the increase in volume though part of the additional biomass may have been replaced through natural processes.