Solid biomass

Solid biomass

Sugar cane residue can be used as a biofuel
Direct use is usually in the form of combustible solids, either wood, the biogenic portion of municipal solid waste or combustible field crops. Field crops may be grown specifically for combustion or may be used for other purposes, and the processed plant waste then used for combustion. Most sorts of biomatter, including dried manure, can actually be burnt to heat water and to drive turbines.
Sugar cane residue, wheat chaff, corn cobs and other plant matter can be, and is, burnt quite successfully. The net Carbon Dioxide emissions that are added to the atmosphere by this process are only from the fossil fuel that is consumed to plant, fertilize, harvest and transport the biomass. Processes to grow perenials such as switchgrass, miscanthus, and willow, field pelletize and co-fire with coal for electricity generation are being studied and appear to be economically viable. [8] Co-firing this cellulosic biomass with coal to make electricity is more effective for reducing carbon dioxide emmissions to the atmosphere than using it to make ethanol.
Solid biomass can also be gasified, and used as described in the next section.