What are biomass fuels derived from?

Biomass fuels are derived from living or once-living materials, which encompasses a wide range of organic materials such as plants, agricultural residues, wood, and animal waste. These materials can be utilized for energy production through various processes, such as combustion, fermentation, or anaerobic digestion, which convert the organic matter into usable forms of fuel like bioethanol, biodiesel, or biogas.

The definition of biomass emphasizes its renewable nature due to the ongoing biological processes of growth and decay. This characteristic distinguishes biomass from fossil fuels, which are formed from ancient organic matter and are non-renewable, as their formation takes millions of years.

Understanding biomass fuels is critical in discussions about sustainable energy, as they represent a way to utilize waste products and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. This makes their contribution important in efforts towards carbon-neutral energy solutions.