Biomass Nutrients and Energy Conversion

Biomass is used as a source of nutrients (compost) and renewable energy. Specifically, biomass is responsible for 61% of green energy production in the Netherlands (2019), but the total contribution of green energy is only 7.4%. That is why biomass for energy is subsidised to stimulate rapid growth in order to meet the European climate and energy ambitions for 2030. But large scale application of biomass also invokes controversy, such as the facts surrounding incineration, conflict with food production and reduced biodiversity, just to name a few. This course aims to give a wide view on biomass, ranging from societal and legislative drives, availability and potential, technologies, energy conversion processes, as well as applications of biomass and their impacts on the environment.