Biomass is considered as organic substance, which can be used as an energy source. It can be used directly for burning, by causing generated heat. It can also be converted into liquid gaseous, which are used as fuel (biogas and biodiesel). Biomass include:
- wood and wood residues (wooden biomass);
- energy crops (corn, wheat, sunflower, rape);
- faeces od domestic animals, agricultural waste in agriculture;
- waste from food industries;
- slaughterhouse waste;
- waste sludge and sediment of treatment plants;
- organic fraction of municipal wastes.
Wood biomass
Largest reserve of biomass in Slovenia is wood, because the Slovenian territory is covered with forest by 58 %. For the purposes of energy production, around 1.2 million m3 of wood per year is consumed, which represents 4 % of primary energy needs. 70 % of the wood is consumed for heating of buildings and 30 % for energy needs in the industry.
- firewood (different lengths),
- wooden chips,
- pellets,
- briquettes.
