Bioenergy is a form of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) that derives from the energy recovery of organic materials of biological origin. These organic materials are generally called biomass and biogas.
Bioenergy is defined as the chemical energy stored in plants and animals or the waste they produce. During conversion processes such as combustion, biomass releases its energy in the form of heat while producing carbon dioxide that is replacing the carbon dioxide that is absorbed as the plant develops.
Bioenergy applications are extremely diverse and include, among other things, the provision of heating, electricity generation and vehicle fuels. Biomass can be used directly (eg by burning wood for heating and cooking) or indirectly by converting it to liquid or gaseous fuel (eg ethanol from sugar beet or biogas from animal waste).
