The moisture content, calorific value,fixed carbon and volatile matter content, ash and residual contents, alkali metal content and cellulose/lignin ratio play important roles in the selection of a biomass as an energy source.
The amount and type of energy obtained vary according to properties of the selected biomass and the applied conversion technology.
Biomass can be directly used in combustion processes in order to obtain heat or to generate electricity.
Products obtained from biomass gasification processes are generally used to generate heat or electricity in an engine or turbine.
Solid and liquid products resulting from pyrolysis and liquefaction processes can be used as fuel after various improvements.
Biogas obtained as a result of the biochemical degradation process of biomass can be used as fuel or to generate electricity in engines. In developed countries, there is an increasing trend in the use of bioenergy as an alternative energy in handling and transportation sectors. There has been significant progress in the conversion of vegetable oil and animal
fat into biodiesel as an alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuels.
Biodiesel fuel can be produced by the transesterification of oils.
Oils obtained from plants, such as soybean, canola, corn,and rapeseed, are the most widely used raw materials for biodiesel production.