Thermochemical conversion of biomass to power and fuels

A wide range of biomass can be converted to energy using the thermochemical conversion process. The biomass can either be from wastes that are traditionally discarded and have no apparent value, or they may be dedicated energy crops grown specifically for the production of bioenergy. The wastes can even be a pollutant, and the major barrier to their use is the cost of collection and transportation. Another important source of biomass is agricultural residues, which constitute the part of the crop that is discarded after the useful products have been extracted from the harvest. The most important sources are corn stover, rice and wheat straw, bagasse (sugar cane residue), and even grapevine prunings. Yard and municipal wastes can also be considered a source of biomass that can be converted into energy. Yard waste is made up of grass clippings, leaves, and tree trimmings, while municipal waste is mostly made up of waste paper, plastics, food waste, and other miscellaneous non-flammable material. Other sources of waste can also include food processing waste and animal waste from livestock facilities.