Almost half of people in the world cook their food and heat their homes by burning coal and biomass in open fires or basic stoves.

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Burning biomass fuel sources such as wood, sunflower husks or animal faeces is part of the government's plans to get 15% of the UK's energy from renewable sources by 2020.

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Coal-burning power plants may get a new life and one that is tied to the co-firing of biomass, or wood chips, that may result in less pollution.

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