Biomass is plant matter such as trees, grasses, agricultural crops or other biological material. It can be used as a solid fuel, or converted into liquid or gaseous forms, for the production of electric power, heat, chemicals, or fuels. By integrating a variety of biomass conversion processes, all of these products can be made in one facility, called a biorefinery. NREL is working to develop cost effective, environmentally friendly biomass conversion technologies to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, improve our air quality, and support rural economies. Learn more about biomass.

Biomass R&D efforts at NREL are focused on:

• biomass characterization,
• thermochemical and biochemical biomass conversion technologies,
• biobased products development, and
• biomass process engineering and analysis.

These research areas directly support the NREL Biomass Program.

NREL is the lead national laboratory of the virtual National Bioenergy Center, which was established to support and coordinate the nation's biomass research activities.

Research Advances in Cellulosic Ethanol
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From Biomass to Biofuels: NREL Leads the Way
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