Solid Biomass
The biomass describes the huge amount of biological material that consists of the living plants, animals and insects; as well as the remains of dead plants, animals and insects. The biomass contains organic molecules with other chemicals such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen.
The biomass is a renewable energy source based on the carbon cycle. The energy within the biomass derives from the sun; solar energy is picked up by the plant material in the process known as photosynthesis.
Much of the biomass material can be used as biofuels. The energy it contains is burnt to generate heat for cooking or warmth. The large scale farming of plants from which ethanol and vegetable oils are extracted to create agrofuels is a specific use of biomass material.
A source of biomass material is municipal solid waste (MSW). This is the household non-recyclable waste collected by the local councils in the UK.