ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview and description of the two major types of biomass energy, the solids and the liquids, followed by a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis of the industry. The important use of biomass is its ability to replace oil because biofuels are currently the only renewable liquid transportation fuel available that has reasonable economics. Biomass power plant size is driven by the biomass availability in close proximity as transport costs of the fuel play a key factor in a plant's economics. The Environmental Protection Agency's basic premise is that burning biomass for energy is considered to be carbon-neutral when considered in the context of natural carbon cycling. The goal of reducing emissions needs low-carbon generators to power the grid the electric cars require, but air transportation and the military fighting vehicles will require liquid fuels.