What is biomass?

Biomass is energy stored in living things, just like food gives you energy to play.

Imagine you're eating a big sandwich, that sandwich gives you energy to run around and climb the jungle gym. In the same way, plants use sunlight to make their own "sandwich" inside them, which gives them energy to grow. When we use biomass, we’re taking that stored energy from plants (or sometimes animals or waste) and turning it into heat, electricity, or fuel, just like how your body turns food into energy.

Plants are like little factories that make their own food using sunlight. They store this energy in their leaves, stems, and roots. When we burn wood, or turn corn into fuel, we’re using that stored energy.

You can think of biomass as a renewable sandwich, every time you eat one, you can make another from the same ingredients.

Using biomass helps us power our homes and cars in a way that’s friendly to the Earth. It’s like eating a sandwich made from fresh veggies, it gives energy without leaving too much trash behind.