In nature's process of photosynthesis, energy from the sun converts carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates - sugars, starches and cellulose. Carbohydrates are the organic compounds that make up biomass. Biomass is all around us in the rich diversity of trees and plant life. Biomass energy is energy made from biomass. When you burn wood in a campfire, energy is released in the form of heat.
Wood is a form of biomass and burning wood is an example of biomass energy.
Photosynthesis converts solar energy into biomass. When wood burns, the process of combustion releases that energy from the wood in the form of heat. However, combustion is just one process for making useful energy from biomass. Other processes are gasification , anaerobic digestion and biofuel production . Biomass is a renewable source of energy because the growth of new plants and trees replenishes the supply of organic matter.