bioenergy

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

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

China is already the world's market leader in hydropower, bioenergy for electricity and heat, and electric vehicles.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Solar Energy Is Growing Faster Than Any Other Energy Source," 4 Oct. 2017
Focus on investing in backup sources, like nuclear and bioenergy, to pick up the slack that renewables can’t cover.

— lacy schley, Discover Magazine, "How Effective Are Turbines?," 7 Sep. 2017
Following the principle that everyone is at least a little toxic, the staff doctors at the Espace Henri Chenot at Palace Merano restore order via anti-allergen diets and bioenergy treatments such as cupping and tendon-muscle massage.

— dana wood, Town & Country, "7 Detox Destinations You Need To Visit," 13 Mar. 2015
Researchers have identified three dozen regions across the Midwest that could potentially be sites of plant-to-bioenergy production facilities, according to Donohue.

— lee bergquist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Energy jolt: UW-Madison to get funding for bioenergy center," 17 July 2017
Professor Jacobson not only claims renewables’ share can be ramped up on the cheap to 100 percent within a few decades, but also that it can be done without bioenergy, which today contributes about half of the country’s renewable-energy production.

— eduardo porter, New York Times, "Fisticuffs Over the Route to a Clean-Energy Future," 20 June 2017
Combined, the categories of energy efficiency, transportation, solar and bioenergy drew more than two-thirds of clean-tech venture capital investment from 2011 to 2016, according to Brookings.

— robert holly, chicagotribune.com, "Clean tech gets frosty reception from venture capitalists; Chicago ranks 10th," 17 May 2017
World-wide tree plantations, soil modification or bioenergy crops could add to the planetary harm of global warming, scientist warns.

— National Geographic, "Massive Tree Farms May Be a Really Bad Climate Idea," 10 Feb. 2016
Under the agreement with the bioenergy company SG Preston, JetBlue would cover about 20 percent of its annual fuel use at Kennedy International Airport, its home base, with a biofuel blend.

— diane cardwell, New York Times, "JetBlue Makes Biofuels Deal to Curtail Greenhouse Gases," 19 Sep. 2016

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.