Biomass Energy Usage

Biomass is solar energy stored in organic matter.  Biomass energy accounts for about 4% of the total energy used in the US.  Just under 30% of biomass energy is used for ethanol production.  Biomass energy usage is greater than solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energies combined, and is more than 40 times that of solar energy usage.  8% of biomass is being used to create electricity.  Less than half of the available biomass is being converted to energy (approximately 214 million dry tons).  Figures 1 and 2 show how biomass energy compares with other renewable energies, as well as other energy sources.

 

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