This survey was prepared by SERI staff and a number of consultants for t h e ~e p a r t m e n t of Energy under Contract EG-77-C-01-4042, Task 3322. ~o m p i l e d ' i n three volumes, the survey covers the technical background of biomass gasification, the present status of research and'development, and recommendations for future work. Volume I, Synopsis and Executive Summary, condenses the body of the report for the more casual reader. Volume 11, Principles of Gasification, discusses the properties of biomass relevant t o gasification and the specific kinetics and thermodynamics of biomass gasification reactions; it is intended far the researcher or engineer. Vo111me 111, Current Technology and Research, details the present status of biomass technology and includes specific recommendations for the future. This survey has been compiled by a number of SERI staff members and consultants under the direction of T. B. Reed. Although many authors contributed to the survey and a r e listed in the Table of Contents, many others had less formal input. W e would like t o thank them for their efforts.