bioenergy

noun bio·en·er·gy \ ˌbi-(ˌ)ō-ˈe-nər-jē \

|Updated on: 1 Jul 2018

Definition of bioenergy

: energy for industrial or commercial use that is derived from biological sources (such as plant matter or animal waste)

We also are pursuing many energy supply technologies with comparatively low or zero CO₂ emissions profiles, such as solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy, and combined heat and power.
—Spencer Abraham

Recent Examples of bioenergy from the Web

The first is bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS), which involves burning biomass (plants or biowaste) in a thermal power plant, capturing CO2 from the exhaust stream, and burying the CO2.

— david roberts, Vox, "Sucking carbon out of the air won’t solve climate change," 14 June 2018
Some is sent to a bioenergy fuel producer; edible surplus is donated to a local charity.

— National Geographic, "From Historic to Cutting Edge: Revitalizing Iconic Buildings," 25 May 2018
Money for bioenergy technologies have gone to research renewable fuels from nonfood sources.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "White House seeks 72 percent cut to clean energy research," 1 Feb. 2018
Money for bioenergy technologies have gone to research renewable fuels from nonfood sources.

— author: steven mufson, chris mooney, Anchorage Daily News, "White House seeks 72 percent cut to clean energy research, underscoring administration’s preference for fossil fuels," 1 Feb. 2018
Money for bioenergy technologies have gone to research renewable fuels from nonfood sources.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "White House seeks 72 percent cut to clean energy research," 1 Feb. 2018
Money for bioenergy technologies have gone to research renewable fuels from nonfood sources.

— author: steven mufson, chris mooney, Anchorage Daily News, "White House seeks 72 percent cut to clean energy research, underscoring administration’s preference for fossil fuels," 1 Feb. 2018
According to Sir John, since the EU’s first renewables directive in 2008, the growth of bioenergy — much of it sourced from North American woods and forests — has provided around half the expansion of renewable energy.

— rupert darwall, National Review, "Europe’s Energy Crack-Up," 22 Jan. 2018
Here are four graphs showing coal, oil, natural gas, and bioenergy in the SSPs and in Sky.

— david roberts, Vox, "Shell’s vision of a net-zero carbon world by 2070, explained," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bioenergy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.