Biomass energy (often grouped under “bioenergy”) includes solid biomass (wood, pellets, residues), biogas/biomethane, municipal/industrial waste used for energy, and liquid biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel).
It remains one of the few renewable options that can provide dispatchable heat and power and drop-in fuels for transport—while also raising sustainability questions around land use, air quality, and supply chains.
Biomass Energy Statistics (Top Highlights)
- Modern bioenergy use: ~21 EJ in 2023 (about 4.5% of total final energy consumption).
- Share of renewables (modern only): modern bioenergy accounts for almost 55% of renewable energy (excluding traditional biomass) and over 6% of global energy supply.
- Bioenergy electricity: about 700 TWh generated in 2023 (about 2.4% of total global electricity generation).
- Global bioenergy power capacity: about 151 GW by 2024.
- Biomass-to-power growth (long-run): 162 TWh (2000) to 685 TWh (2020) for electricity generated from biomass sources.
- Liquid biofuels production: 146 billion litres produced globally in 2020.
- 2024 bioenergy capacity additions: about +4.6 GW globally (with large additions including China and France).
Biomass in the Global Energy Mix
Bioenergy is commonly split into traditional biomass (e.g., open fires and inefficient stoves) and modern bioenergy (modern cookstoves, industrial heat, electricity generation, biogas, biomethane, and biofuels). Modern bioenergy has grown steadily over the last decade-plus, but traditional biomass use remains a major health and development challenge in parts of the world.
In net-zero pathways, the key shift is replacing traditional biomass with cleaner cooking and scaling modern bioenergy where it is truly sustainable—especially from residues, wastes, and by-products.
Electricity from Biomass
Biomass can generate electricity through direct combustion (often in CHP plants), gasification, anaerobic digestion (biogas), and energy-from-waste pathways. Globally, bioenergy provides a smaller share of electricity than wind, solar, or hydro, but it can provide firm output and support grid reliability.
Biomass Power Generation Globally (Selected Years)
| Label | Bar | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |
| 162 TWh | ||
| 2005 |
| 228 TWh | ||
| 2010 |
| 362 TWh | ||
| 2015 |
| 509 TWh | ||
| 2020 |
| 685 TWh |
Max = 685. Widths: 2000 23.65%, 2005 33.28%, 2010 52.85%, 2015 74.31%, 2020 100.00%.
Biomass for Heat and Industry
Most biomass energy is consumed as heat (residential heating, district heating, and industrial process heat). Modern bioenergy also plays a significant role in industrial sectors that are hard to electrify quickly (e.g., pulp and paper, food processing), especially when feedstocks are residues and by-products that would exist anyway.
Recent global tracking highlights that solid bioenergy remains the most-used modern renewable fuel and represents a meaningful slice of global heat consumption, even as electrification and heat pumps expand.
Liquid Biofuels: Production Growth
Liquid biofuels (mainly ethanol and biodiesel/renewable diesel) remain the dominant renewable fuel option for existing vehicle fleets and for parts of aviation and shipping where alternatives scale more slowly. Production and demand can be volatile because they depend on policy mandates, feedstock markets, and refining capacity.
Liquid Biofuels Production (Selected Years)
| Label | Bar | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |
| 17.1 bL | ||
| 2005 |
| 37.1 bL | ||
| 2010 |
| 104 bL | ||
| 2015 |
| 127 bL | ||
| 2020 |
| 146 bL |
Max = 146. Widths: 2000 11.71%, 2005 25.41%, 2010 71.23%, 2015 86.99%, 2020 100.00%.
Biogas and Biomethane Snapshot
Biogas (and upgraded biomethane) is produced from organic wastes and residues via anaerobic digestion. It can be used for power and heat, injected into gas grids (after upgrading), or used as a transport fuel. Production is concentrated in regions with strong waste-management and gas-infrastructure integration.
Biomass Fuel Markets: Wood Pellets
Wood pellets are a major traded solid biomass fuel for heating and power generation. Global pellet production has risen materially over the last decade, with Europe typically accounting for the largest share and the Americas also a major producer region.
Costs and Sustainability (Why “Feedstock” Matters)
Unlike wind and solar, bioenergy economics depend heavily on feedstock and logistics. Global average bioenergy LCOE has not fallen dramatically over time, reflecting fuel costs, transport, and supply-chain volatility. Sustainability outcomes also vary widely: residues and wastes generally have the strongest case, while land-intensive pathways need careful safeguards to avoid negative impacts on forests, food systems, and biodiversity.
Carbon Removal Potential (BECCS)
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) can create net-negative emissions by capturing and storing CO2 from bioenergy systems. While still small at a global level today, BECCS is often featured in net-zero scenarios as a scaling option for difficult-to-abate sectors.
Sources
- International Energy Agency (IEA) — Bioenergy: https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/bioenergy
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) — Bioenergy & biofuels: https://www.irena.org/Energy-Transition/Technology/Bioenergy-and-biofuels
- IRENA — Record-Breaking Annual Growth in Renewable Power Capacity (Press Release, 26 Mar 2025): https://www.irena.org/News/pressreleases/2025/Mar/Record-Breaking-Annual-Growth-in-Renewable-Power-Capacity
- REN21 — Global Status Report 2025 (Bioenergy): https://www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/technologies/bioenergy/
- World Bioenergy Association — Global Bioenergy Statistics 2023 (PDF): https://www.worldbioenergy.org/uploads/231219%20GBS%20Report.pdf