Biomass is renewable organic material derived from plants and animals that can be used as a source of energy. It includes materials such as wood, agricultural crops and residues, food waste, and animal manure. Biomass can be directly burned for heat or converted into liquid and gaseous fuels through various processes
. In energy production, biomass refers specifically to matter from recently living (but now dead) organisms used to generate bioenergy. Common sources include wood and wood residues, energy crops like switchgrass and maize, agricultural waste, and organic waste from households and industry
. Biomass energy originates from the chemical energy stored in living organisms, which originally comes from the Sun through photosynthesis
. Biomass is considered a renewable energy source because the carbon dioxide released when it is burned can be offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed by new plants grown to replace the harvested biomass. However, its sustainability depends on how the biomass is sourced and managed
. In summary, biomass is organic material from plants and animals used as a renewable energy source for heating, electricity generation, and fuel production
