Bioenergy has always been an important energy source for human survival. It is the fourth-largest energy source after coal, oil and natural gas, and occupies an important position in the entire energy system. Relevant experts estimate that biomass energy is very likely to become an integral part of the future sustainable energy system. By the middle of the next century, various biomass alternative fuels produced by new technologies will account for more than 40% of the global total energy consumption.

At present, energy shortages and environmental protection issues are increasingly becoming the main bottleneck restricting the sustainable development of China's economy, and there is an urgent need to build a stable, economic, clean and safe energy supply system. Therefore, the choice of supplemental alternative energy is imperative.

The biomass energy generated by photosynthesis around the world is about 5 billion tons every year, of which only 1% is used as energy, but it has provided 14% of the world's energy. Biomass energy utilization mainly includes biomass power generation and biofuels. For biomass power generation, it is mainly direct combustion power generation and advanced small gas turbine combined cycle power generation. Biofuel refers to petroleum-based alternative energy produced from biological resources, including bioethanol, biodiesel, ETBE (ethyl tert-butyl ether), biogas, biomethanol and biodimethyl ether.

At present, many biomass energy technologies and devices abroad have achieved large-scale industrial operations. The conversion of biomass from the United States, Sweden, and Austria to high-grade energy has a considerable scale, accounting for 4%, 16%, and 10% of the country's primary energy consumption, respectively.

At present, there are three main types of biomass energy utilization technologies: direct combustion, biochemical conversion, and thermochemical conversion. At present, stoves are commonly used in many rural areas, and boilers have a higher combustion heat efficiency, which can reach more than 90% when combined heat and power. Biochemical conversion mainly refers to anaerobic fermentation and bioenzyme technology to decompose non-solid biomass such as industrial organic waste liquid and human and animal feces into biogas; and bioenzyme technology is to convert biomass into ethanol.

Compared with traditional fossil energy, biomass energy has the characteristics of reproducibility, low pollution, wide distribution and abundant reserves. Biomass is a renewable resource that can be regenerated through the photosynthesis of plants. It is a renewable energy equivalent to wind energy and solar energy. It is rich in resources and can ensure the sustainable use of energy. The sulfur content and nitrogen content of the biomass are low, and less SOX and NOX are generated during the combustion process, which can effectively reduce the greenhouse effect. Biomass energy reserves are abundant. According to experts ’estimates, the earth ’s land produces 100-125 billion tons of biomass each year; the ocean produces 50 billion tons of biomass annually. The annual production of biomass energy far exceeds the world's total energy demand, which is equivalent to 10 times the current total world energy consumption.