Biomass, as it pertains to bioenergy production, is any organic matter from plants or animals that can be used to produce energy. Examples of organic matter used to produce biomass include:
- Agricultural crops and residues
- Woody biomass from forest management and wood processing
- Waste from animal feeding operations
- Waste segregated from municipal wastes or from wastewater treatment processes
- Terrestrial and aquatic energy crops grown solely for energy purposes.
Examples of biomass and their uses for energy include:
- Wood and wood processing wastes, which are burned to heat buildings, to produce "process heat" in industry and to generate electricity
- Agricultural crops and waste materials, which are burned as a fuel or converted to liquid biofuels
- Food, yard and wood waste in garbage, which is burned to produce electricity in power plants or converted to biogas in landfills
- Animal manure and human sewage, which is converted to biogas that can be burned as a fuel
Biomass in Missouri
Each year since 2020, biomass has provided about 1% of Missouri’s renewable electricity generation. Missouri has significant potential for biomass use, given the state’s large agricultural sector and its 15 million acres of forest — covering nearly one-third of the state.
Missouri’s forests and other biomass resources support the state’s wood pellet industry. These pellets are used both for producing electricity and for space heating. Missouri had three wood pellet manufacturing plants until in 2024, when the largest facility (located in Webster County) was damaged in a fire. This reduced the annual biomass production capacity in Missouri from 157,000 tons to 16,000 tons.
More Information
The Missouri University of Science and Technology has joined in a multi-university study to explore the potential for using algae to create biomass for fuel at a coal-fired power plant. Researchers with University of Missouri’s extension program also are developing fast-growing trees that could be harvested every two to three years for use as biomass. For more information, visit the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Biomass Explained webpage.