Biopower is the use of biomass resources to produce, either singly or in combination, electricity, heat and steam, and cooling.
Most electricity produced in the U.S. uses coal, natural gas, nuclear, or hydroelectric. About 1.5% of the total electricity generated is from biomass.
Currently, the paper and pulp industry is the largest producer of biomass electricity and heat/steam, generating more than 50% of its energy needs from black liquor and waste wood.
Most dedicated biopower facilities are small scale (<50 MWe, average 20e MWe). Pile burners and stoker combustors are the most commonly used biomass direct fire technologies.