Biomass Utilization for Power Generation
Summary
Biomass power generation harnesses organic residues—such as agricultural by-products, forestry waste and energy crops—as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Core technologies include direct combustion, gasification, pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion. Direct combustion of briquetted or pelleted biomass in steam boilers remains the most mature pathway, supporting grid-connected and off-grid installations from kilowatt to multi-megawatt scale. Gasification and pyrolysis offer flexibility by converting feedstocks into syngas or bio-oil, which can fuel gas turbines or internal combustion engines. Anaerobic digestion transforms wet residues into biogas, enhancing energy recovery from manure, food waste and dedicated energy crops. Advances in pre-treatment—such as torrefaction, pelletisation and hydrothermal carbonisation—have improved fuel uniformity and combustion performance, while integrated biochar production can deliver carbon sequestration and soil enhancement. Globally, biomass systems contribute to rural development, circular-economy strategies and greenhouse-gas mitigation, particularly where sustainable resource management meets electrification needs in developing regions.
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Biomass Utilization for Power Generation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biomass utilization for power generation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biomass: organic material of plant or animal origin used as a renewable energy source.
Gasification: partial oxidation of biomass at high temperature to produce a combustible syngas.
Pyrolysis: thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen, yielding char, liquid and gaseous products.
Anaerobic digestion: microbial conversion of organic matter into biogas under oxygen-free conditions.
Torrefaction: mild thermal treatment of biomass (200–300 °C) to improve energy density and handling properties.
References
- Enhancing carbon reduction and sustainable agriculture in Thailand: An assessment of rice straw utilization strategies. Green Technologies and Sustainability (2025).
- Feasibility of 10 MW Biomass-Fired Power Plant Used Rice Straw in Cambodia. Energies (2023).
- A Review of the Sustainable Utilization of Rice Residues for Bioenergy Conversion Using Different Valorization Techniques, Their Challenges, and Techno-Economic Assessment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022).
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