Biomass - fueling the plant

Biomass is renewable because it is sourced from plants and trees. Biomass naturally absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while it is growing and emits it when it decays or when burned. Biomass fuel comprises forestry and agricultural residues and energy crops such as coppiced willow and miscanthus.

Even if biomass is not consumed as fuel, the release of greenhouse gases (particularly carbon dioxide and methane) happens naturally as the biomass material eventually dies and decays – converting biomass to energy accelerates this natural process and makes good use of a renewable resource. It also avoids the release of methane which has more than 20 times the impact on global warming than carbon dioxide.

The Corpach Biomass Energy Plant would be able to consume different types of biomass including:

• Virgin timber from forestry residues and timber processing
• Energy crops such as coppiced willow and miscanthus
• Agricultural residues from harvesting or processing such as straw and husks.