What is it?
The vegetation which covers our planet is a natural deposit of solar energy. The organic matter it is made of is called biomass. Biomass is produced through photosynthesis, during which, thanks to solar energy, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the water in the ground combine and produce sugars that are necessary for life. The solar energy that activated the photosynthesis is stored in the chemical bonds of these substances. Photosynthesis is very important because it feeds life on Earth and because it removes 2 x 1011 tons of carbon per year, with an energy content of about 70 billion TOE – tons of oil equivalent, i.e. ten times the annual world energy requirement.
When biomass is burnt, the oxygen in the atmosphere combines with the carbon contained in the biomass, carbon dioxide and water are released, and heat is produced. Carbon dioxide returns into the atmosphere and it becomes newly available to be included in the photosynthesis process, to produce new biomass. Biomass, therefore, is a renewable resource.
In the energy sector, the term “biomass” indicates various products, that are mostly of plant origin and in a small part of animal origin, which are utilized to produce energy: residues from agriculture and forests, waste from the wood industry such as wood shavings and sawdust, “energy crops” (i.e. plants that are specifically cultivated for energy purposes), waste products from farming industries, and agriculture and food residues (residues from crops for humans or animals, such as straw).
Special reports
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18 May 2011
Artificial photosynthesis
The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature...
27 September 2012
Over 7 billion people on Earth
Demographers have estimated that on 31 October 2011 world population...
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20 September 2010
Vertical farm
According to recent estimates made by the UNO, the global population...
14 July 2021
Italy’s renewable sources
Renewable energy sources in Italy The Energy Services Operator (GSE) periodically publishes data and statistics on the renewable energy sources…
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10 September 2020
A simple and ingenious invention
There are objects so simple and ordinary that we forget their existence when we don't need them. Their presence is…
17 March 2020
Energy and renewable sources: what is the current status?
The unstoppable growth of renewable sources continues…
23 September 2019
Everything is transformed
At primary school we learn that nothing is created and nothing is destroyed. We have heard this phrase so many…
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18 May 2011
Artificial photosynthesis
The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature...
-
27 September 2012
Over 7 billion people on Earth
Demographers have estimated that on 31 October 2011 world population...
-
20 September 2010
Vertical farm
According to recent estimates made by the UNO, the global population...
14 July 2021
Italy’s renewable sources
Renewable energy sources in Italy The Energy Services Operator (GSE) periodically publishes data and statistics on the renewable energy sources…
-
18 May 2011
Artificial photosynthesis
The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature...
-
27 September 2012
Over 7 billion people on Earth
Demographers have estimated that on 31 October 2011 world population...
From the Multimedia section
Facts
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Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
Peat and peat-bogs
The age of coal starts towards the mid 1600s, stimulated by the need for finding an alternative energy source to…
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Hydrogen from the sugar cane
The Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (CIRPS) carried out a study in Peru...
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
Where does energy come from?
Every day the Earth receives enough solar energy to satisfy the global energy need...
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Electricity and electrons
In all electric plants, excluding photovoltaic solar plants, mechanic energy is transformed into electric energy through the same basic procedure...
ITER fusion reactor
The reactor that will be able to produce electronuclear energy without risk of explosion or radioactive waste...
Geographical distribution of energy
Every day the Earth receives enough solar energy to satisfy the global energy need. Unfortunately we cannot exploit all this…
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16 May 2011
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
-
2 March 2011
Peat and peat-bogs
The age of coal starts towards the mid 1600s, stimulated by the need for finding an alternative energy source to…
16 May 2011
Hydrogen from the sugar cane
The Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (CIRPS) carried out a study in Peru...
-
14 June 2011
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
2 March 2011
Where does energy come from?
Every day the Earth receives enough solar energy to satisfy the global energy need...
-
16 May 2011
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
-
2 March 2011
Peat and peat-bogs
The age of coal starts towards the mid 1600s, stimulated by the need for finding an alternative energy source to…