Biomass Raw Material

Bioenergy can be generated from various biomass feedstocks such as wood, energy crops, and biomass residues derived from timber processing, agriculture, or forestry. Furthermore, animal wastes algae, as well as the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes consist an important source of biomass potential. This chapter presents the main biomass sources as well as the dominant classification processes for solid biofuels. The classification of woody, herbaceous, and fruit and aquatic biomass in accordance with the relevant EN standards is elaborated. The second section of this chapter presents the procedures of the testing procedures in accordance with European standards for the elemental and proximal assessment of solid biomass and solid biofuels; existing databases on biomass characteristics are also referred. The chapter concludes with the best practices employed for the estimation and quantification of biomass potential.