Home - For Our Globe - Efficient Use of Biomass

Sustainability means using resources efficiently

Using Biomass Efficiently Reduces our Environmental Footprint

Biomass Electric Generation (without co-generation)

• With biomass electric generation, only 20-35% of the energy in forest products becomes useful electric power. 65-85% of the energy content of the wood is discarded as waste heat from the facilities.
• With biomass conversion to liquid fuels such as cellulosic ethanol, less then 40% of the energy in the feedstock is converted into usable fuel.  
• But with biomass co-generation or biomass thermal, 80-92% of energy resources of forest products wind up as useful energy, displacing fossil fuels & carbon emissions.

With a limited quantity of sustainable forest resources available, efficient usage results in:

• Lower environmental impact and lower carbon emissions
• Lessened reliance on imported fossil fuels
• Greater job creation and a significantly higher federal and state tax revenue base