Woody and vegetable biomass has long been used to make heat. Recently, there has been a resurgence in interest in biomass energy production, because it is a carbon-free, abundant energy source. Biomass-based domestic heating systems do emit significant amounts of particulate matter, but biomass is still considered to be an attractive solution for residential heating systems based on renewable fuels.

Sicily is particularly interested in biomass as a raw material for producing energy because of the local soil and climate, and this trend could have significant, highly positive socio-economic consequences. This study aims to evaluate the potential of a cogeneration system in the biomass sector.