Bioenergy - power plant capacity worldwide 2019
Biomass demand
Bioenergy is one of the largest contributors to renewable energy demand – traditional biomass use in developing countries and more modern uses for biomass account for a large part of bioenergy consumption. Although fossil fuels remain the primary source for heating, the combustion of biomass acts as a renewable heating source. Traditional use of biomass occurs when wood biomass or charcoal, as well as dung and agricultural residues are burned in simple devices.
Modern biomass combustion plant
As seen in the traditional combustion of biomass for heat, modern uses of biomass can be complex due to the nature of the materials used. Some biomass requires pre-treatment before being burned. The heat from the combustion is used to fire the boiler, generating hot water or steam, which turns a turbine that produces electricity.