A range of organic material holds the potential for energy production, including energy crops such as switchgrass, residues from crops, wood waste, logging residues, and other matter from forests. In some cases, these biomass sources are burned at high temperatures to produce electricity.
Among the most prominent examples are pulp and paper mills that use forest byproducts to generate power for the mill, a process known as co-generation.
In some cases, biomass can be co-fired with other energy sources such as coal, although the content of biomass allowable for mixture is generally limited to 20% or lower.
In recent years, states have permitted a number of biomass plants designed specifically for electricity generation. One such project at Plant Mitchell near Albany, Georgia, will produce as much as 96 megawatts of power using wood mass from a 100-mile radius around the plant.
Capacity Factor: 80% (co-firing)
Source: EIA
