OpenFields

The term 'biomass' most often refers to organic matter such as timber and crops which are grown specifically to be burned as 'biofuels' for the generation of energy as heat and power. As well as specifically grown crops, other agricultural by-products are also often referred to as biomass, such as straw, grain husks, forest products, waste wood and animal wastes such as slurry and chicken litter, as they can also be used as biofuels in the generation of energy.

Biomass is sustainable, and generally carbon neutral because the amount of carbon released through the combustion process is offset by the similar amount of carbon that was originally trapped in the organic matter by photosynthesis during its growth.

To be truly carbon-neutral we need to make sustainable use of plants or trees as fuel, (and replant them as we harvest them), so that the carbon is reabsorbed in a continuous cycle..

The most popular UK biomass crops are short rotation coppice, willow and poplar, Miscanthus (Elephant Grass), Reed Canary Grass and Oil Seed Rape.