NYSERDA - Power Naturally - Biomass Resources

Biomass Resources

NYSERDA’s Biomass Resources Program serves a variety of goals in the areas of agricultural biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, bioremediation, fermentation, enzymes, and improving woody crops for the agricultural sector, as well as scale-up of fast-growing willow plantations. Agricultural projects that add value on-farm have included studying ethanol production from corn, biodiesel production, organic wool scouring, processing apple wastes to animal feed, and meadow-raised meat production.

The Biomass Resources Program emphasizes the use of low-cost waste biomass such as agricultural and forestry waste streams to products including fuels and chemicals. Projects that convert biomass to fuels and chemicals use methods that include anaerobic digestion, acid or enzyme hydrolysis, and gasification. The largest source of biomass is wood and wood wastes, a renewable and sustainable resource. As a general rule, New York State has an abundance of biomass feedstocks compared to other states.

Note: Manure management, biogas, biopower for electricity, biomass heating, and projects involving the Renewable Portfolio Standard are generally not part of the Biomass Resources Program. For more information about other types of NYSERDA biomass R&D projects, please visit our main Biomass page.

Terminology

Biomass Resources
The term "biomass" means any plant derived organic matter available on a renewable basis, including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops, agricultural crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials. Handling technologies, collection logistics and infrastructure are important aspects of the biomass resource supply chain.

Biopower
Biopower refers to use of biomass to generate electricity. Technologies include co-firing of biomass in existing coal fired boilers as well as gasification.

Biofuels
A variety of fuels can be made from biomass resources, including liquid fuels ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, and gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and methane.

Biobased Chemicals and Materials
Biobased chemicals and materials are commercial or industrial products, other than food and feed, derived from biomass feedstocks. Biobased products include green chemicals, renewable plastics, natural fibers, and natural structural materials. Many of these products can replace products and materials traditionally derived from petrochemicals.