NOVELTY - The method comprises pyrolyzing or torrefying a carbon-containing feed material in a devolatilization unit to form a first gas stream and a first solid stream comprising char, which is formed in an amount of 20-40 wt.% of the feed material on a dry basis, gasifying the char in a gasifier to form a second gas stream comprising syngas and a second solid stream comprising ash, thermally processing the first and second gas streams, combusting the char to produce steam, and converting the syngas to a product consisting of alcohols, alkanes, olefins, aldehydes, ethers, acids and hydrogen.    USE - The method is useful for forming syngas, which is useful to produce alcohols, alkanes, olefins, aldehydes, ethers, acids, hydrogen (claimed) heat, power, liquid fuels (e.g. ethanol) and energy that is useful in syngas-based energy-conversion devices including a solid-oxide fuel cell, Stirling engine, micro-turbine, internal combustion engine, thermo-electric generator, scroll expander, gas burner or thermo-photovoltaic device.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of efficiently, economically and reliably forming the syngas in less consumption of energy.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method comprises pyrolyzing or torrefying a carbon-containing feed material in a devolatilization unit to form a first gas stream and a first solid stream comprising char, which is formed in an amount of 20-40 wt.% of the feed material on a dry basis, gasifying the char in a gasifier to form a second gas stream comprising syngas and a second solid stream comprising ash, thermally processing the first and second gas streams, combusting the char to produce steam, and converting the syngas to a product consisting of alcohols, alkanes, olefins, aldehydes, ethers, acids and hydrogen. The thermal processing includes tar cracking and steam reforming, where the cracking and reforming are performed in the presence of a catalyst. The gasification step is conducted in the presence of oxygen and steam. A portion of the steam is recycled to the pyrolyzing or torrefying step to provide heat or to feed directly into the devolatilization unit. The char is co-combusted with another solid fuel. A portion of first gas stream is injected at locations within the gasifier. The tars and/or particulates are removed by cooling, barrier filters, and guard beds. The thermal processing step comprises introducing oxygen into a reformer unit to cause some partial or total oxidation for increasing the temperature during the thermal processing. A sub-stoichiometric amount of oxygen and a supplemental fuel is introduced in a pre-combustion step prior to the thermal processing. In the pre-combustion step, the oxygen causes some partial or total oxidation to increase the temperature within the reformer unit. The thermal processing generates additional syngas. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for an apparatus for forming syngas.