The exploitation of energy from biomass has played a key role in the evolution of mankind. Until relatively recently it was the only form of energy which was usefully exploited by humans and is still the main source of energy for more than half the world’s population for domestic energy needs . One of the simplest forms of biomass is a basic open fire used
to provide heat for cooking, warming water or warming the air in our home. More sophisticated technologies exist for extracting this energy and converting it into useful heat or power in an efficient way. In the mid-1800s, biomass, principally wood biomass, supplied over 90% of U.S. energy and fuel needs, after which biomass energy usage began to
decrease as fossil fuels became the preferred energy resources. This eventuality of fossil fuel and the adverse impact of fossil
fuel usage on the environment are expected to be the driving
forces that stimulate the transformation of biomass into one of
the dominant energy resources.