Biomass - an energy source that uses wood

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Biomass– An Energy Source that Uses Wood

09/08/2010

Biomass refers to any organic material that can be used to produce energy. It is mainly used to produce heat. There are two types of biomass- conventional biomass, widely used in emerging countries for cooking and heating, and non-conventional biomass, used in industrialized countries to produce heat and electricity. More and more electricity is produced from this source. Wood is by far the most widely used biomass source. In Europe, the biomass industry- which uses natural resources- is most widely developed in Northern countries.

Biomass - A Source of Electricity

In 2008, biomass was the second largest source of renewable electricity in the world (5.9%). The United States accounted for over a quarter of electricity produced from biomass. Brazil and Canada, which have large territories and huge forests, are among the leading countries but are falling behind. Japan, ranked 4^th, is keen to diversify its energy sources.

Wood- the Main Component in the Europe's Biomass Industry

Germany is the leading European country in the production of primary energy from wood and wood waste. It is far ahead of France, ranked second, and even further ahead of Sweden, ranked third.

Rising Consumption throughout Europe

In the 25 EU member states, wood energy accounted for 55 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2004. It is on the rise everywhere, albeit in variable proportions. With consumption of 9.2 Mtoe, France is the leading country in Europe in terms of volume consumed, meeting just under 5% of its energy needs in this way. In terms of the number of inhabitants, Austria is the leading consumer of wood energy. Wood meets approx. 10% of its energy needs.