Biomass generally refers to the quantity of living (biological) matter within a given unit of environmental area. The term is often used interchangeably with biomass fuel, but strictly speaking the two are not the same. Biomass fuel is a specific type of biomass used to produce synthetic fuels or which can be burned in its natural state to produce energy. Biomass fuels range from peat and manure to grain byproducts and food processing wastes. Energy produced from the burning of biomass fuel may or may not be considered green power depending on the quantity of airborne pollutants and other byproducts the fuel produces when burned or converted to fuel.

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