What is peat?

Peat results from the accumulation of partially decomposed swamp vegetation rich in various types of grass and trees in an anaerobic environment. It is a near surface resource and usually attains a depth of several meters, overlying an organic soil and underlying the top soil.  Peat is an energy resource, which has been classified as a biomass fuel. This is to distinguish it from bio-fuels, like wood and from fossil fuels like coal and petroleum. In the right environment, it can be regarded as a slowly renewable natural resource... Although it has a very dry light, it possesses sufficient carbon to warrant its utilization as a source of heat energy. It has many other uses as will be elaborated later. Many different types of peat have been identified.see more