Biomass is organic material from plants and animals that can be converted into energy through combustion, fermentation, or other processes. As a fuel source, it includes wood, crop residues, animal manure, algae, and dedicated energy crops like switchgrass or willow.
The answer to whether biomass qualifies as renewable isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends entirely on how the organic material is sourced and replenished. When harvested sustainably, meaning new plant growth absorbs the carbon dioxide released during combustion at roughly the same rate it’s emitted, biomass operates within a renewable cycle. But when forests…