The biomass sector encompasses any organic matter capable of
producing energy [25]. In particular, the Spanish Association of
Standardisation and Certification (Spanish initials AENOR) uses the
definition given by the European Technical Specification CEN/TS
14588 to catalogue biomass as any material of biological origin,
excluding those that have been covered in geological formations
suffering a mineralisation process. This fact implies that biomass
resources come from diverse and heterogeneous sources [71], and
this heterogeneity, and the technologies available or in develop-
ment, allows the obtained energy products to replace any con-
ventional energy, including solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels, for
thermal and electrical purposes, such as by gasification [72–74]
or combustion [75]. Major subsectors include forest [76], both
from agricultural seasonal crops [22] and from pruning [77],
industrial [78], and energy crops [79]. Data related to the use of
biomass for electric power generation through cogeneration or co-
firing systems have placed Spain in a modest position (ninth place)
compared to countries in northern Europe such as Sweden, Fin-
land, Germany, Poland, and Austria. However, studies have shown
that the combined technical potential of agriculture and forestry
residues in Spain is equivalent to 11.25% of the net electrical
energy generated in Spain in 2008 [76]. For example, Germany had
approximately 440 biomass power plants using solid biomass in
operation at the end of 2011 [80].