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From energy point of view, biomass is organic matter (based on carbon, hydrogen and oxygen) of non-fossil origin that has an intrinsic chemical energy content. It includes all terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, better known as virgin biomass, and all the biodegradable organic waste, such as municipal solid waste, animal waste, agricultural and forestry residues, and certain types of industrial waste.
From a regulatory point of view, biomass used for energy production can be defined according to the Legislative Decree no. 387 of 29 December 2003 - "Implementation of Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market".
| Biomass as a renewable energy source |
The chemical energy contained in the biomass derives directly or indirectly from photosynthesis. Through this process, CO2 and water from the environment are used, thanks to the light energy captured from the sun, to nurture the growth of organic matter. In a nutshell, the energy contained in biomass is nothing but stored solar energy which is converted into power with null CO2 balance.
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