Two biomass systems used for extracting the energy are furnaces and digestors:

FURNACES
This is the most common form of biomass converstion. Any standard wood burning stove is a perfect example. But many other materials can be burned to produce heat, and the heat can be used for many applications, even electricity production. Types of burnable biomass include, wood and wood pellets, grains such as corn, vegetable oils, trash, etc.

DIGESTORS
These systems accelerate the natural process of organic matter breaking down into basic compunds. One of the bi-products is methane, a common usable gas. This gas can be stored and used to make heat, drive generators or run other types of engines such as cars. Applications include waste water treatment facilities, landfills and dairy farms. A farmer can turn manure into natural gas using an anarobic biodigestor. They can use the gas to produce electricity to run the facility, and the leftover material can be used as a high grade fertilizer for crops. These systems are being utilized by many forward thinking farmers to create sustainable agriculture businesses.