Microwave-Assisted　Pyrolysis　(MAP)　is　a　highly　scalable　process　that　has　the　potential　to　realize　the　Distributed　Biomass　Energy　Production　System　(DBEPS)　concept.　This　study　was　to　illustrate　the　heating　properties　of　MAP　when　applied　to　biomass,　and　to　demonstrate　the　feasibility　of　manipulating　the　heating　operation　to　fully　utilize　exothermic　reactions　as　a　means　to　save　energy.　Alternate　microwave　heating　of　corn　stover　revealed　exothermic　reactions　occurring　in　temperature　ranges　of　188.4-224.0　°C　and　367.0-387.0　°C.　These　exothermic　reactions　can　potentially　sustain　the　pyrolysis　reactions　in　the　absence　of　external　heat　sources,　indicating　that　alternative　dielectric　heating　is　a　practical　energy-saving　operation　mode　for　MAP.　Analysis　of　the　liquid　products　obtained　from　different　heating　intervals　suggests　that　it　is　possible　to　selectively　extract　the　primary　pyrolysis　products　by　collecting　the　condensables　at　specific　heating　times.　The　solid　chars　produced　during　MAP　have　desirable　microwave　absorbent　properties　and　could　be　recycled　in　the　MAP　process.　©　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.