So far, no standardized biomass term has been established. The biomass terms found in the literature differ to a greater or lesser extent. They can also be divided into two groups.
Ecological biomass terms- Ecological biomass terms are linguistic tools for explaining the extent and changes in biomass. This is because the amount of biomass can change as living organisms interact with each other and with their inanimate environment. There is currently no consensus on the meaning of the term ecological biomass. Instead, a colorful variety of ecological biomass terms exist side by side.
- Energy-related biomass terms only include biotic substances that can be used as energy sources. The various energy-related biomass terms differ from each other only in nuances. Biomass calculator http://www.gammel.de/tools/biomasserechner
Energy-related biomass terms
The energy-related biomass term only includes animal and plant products that can be used to generate heating energy, electrical energy and as fuels. Compared to the ecological biomass terms, the energy-related biomass term is much narrower. Firstly, it refers exclusively to animal and plant substances, but never to microbial substances. And secondly, within animal and plant substances, it only includes substances that can be utilized for energy purposes.
"Biomass: Organic substances of a biogenic, non-fossil nature for energy use. Use in biomass heating systems."
- Bundesverband der landwirtschaftlichen Berufsgenossenschaften e.V.: Biomass heating systems. Kassel, 2008, p. 3.
"Biomass within the meaning of this Ordinance are energy sources from phytomass and biomass. This also includes derived products and by-products, residues and waste resulting from phytomass and zoomass whose energy content originates from phytomass and zoomass."
- Federal Ministry of Justice in cooperation with juris GmbH: Verordnung über die Erzeugung von Strom aus Biomasse (Biomasseverordnung - BiomasseV). Berlin 2001, p. 1.
The forms of biomass considered for energy purposes are: wood pellets, woodchips, straw, grain, waste wood, vegetable flotsam, biodiesel and biogas as well as wood gas. Energy-relevant biomass can therefore exist in gaseous, liquid and solid form.
White wood chips (Gammel Engineering)
White wood chips (Gammel Engineering)
Further information :
DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH (DBFZ) describes the importance of biomass as an energy source :
Biomass - an energy source of the future
The challenges of global climate protection can only be met with a sustainable energy supply. Biomass is the most important and most versatile renewable energy source in Germany. For this reason, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is funding the "Promotion of research and development for the climate-efficient optimization of biomass energy use" programme and other R&D projects as part of the national climate protection initiative
Sources :
Wikipedia http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasse
DBFZ http://www.energetische-biomassenutzung.de