Bioenergy
Bioenergy is a renewable energy resource that is made from organic material. One of the benefits of bioenergy sources is their relatively dispersed nature, coming from a wide geographic area and from many different sources. This is particularly beneficial from a fuels perspective, as the fossil fuels they replace sorely lack this advantage. Bioenergy comes in many different forms, varying from fuel source to production process to end use and end technology. Bio energy can be broadly separated into the categories biomass, biogas, and liquid biofuel.
Why BioEnergy Matters to Local Governments
Using waste products to generate energy turns the problem of waste disposal into a source of heat, power and revenue for local governments.
The Resource
Bioenergy can be sourced from a variety of plant and animal sources, and can be used directly for heating (such as wood in wood stove), in combined heat and power systems, and to generate electricity. Bioenergy ranges from solid fuels, to liquid, and gas. Bioenergy sources can be divided into agricultural, forest, and landfill sources, which in the cases of agricultural and forest sources can be divided into crops and products grown or produced for the purpose of bioenergy production, and into residues. Landfill gas, and other bioenergy waste products are of the second type as well. Bioenergy is capable of generating energy upon demand, and hence is highly reliable.
