Biomass and Hydrogen: Allies for Net Zero

Sustainable fuels such as biofuels and hydrogen will play an important role in clean energy transitions. They complement direct electrification and energy efficiency measures in reducing emissions in sectors that are hard to abate, while providing energy diversification, security, and economic development opportunities.

What is less known, however, is that interesting synergies emerge when bioenergy and renewable hydrogen are developed in a more integrated manner. Such opportunities were explored in depth in the Workshop “Biomass and Hydrogen – Allies for Net Zero”, that took place on May 15, 2025 at IEA HQ in Paris. It was organised by the IEA Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme and the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme, and supported by the International Energy Agency.

Download the full report “Biomass and Hydrogen: Allies for Net Zero”

The aim of the workshop was twofold. Firstly, deepen the understanding of how renewable hydrogen can be produced directly from biomass, so-called biohydrogen, and its potential role within the energy system. It is an additional hydrogen production route to the well-known process via electrolysis, using renewable electricity. Production of hydrogen from biomass can potentially be integrated with capturing of the biobased carbon which would lead to so-called ’negative CO2-emissions’ when stored permanently underground. This would allow to effectively lower the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The result is the availability of hydrogen with a net negative carbon footprint, which offers potential for financial rewards via Carbon Credits.

Secondly, hydrogen is already being used to produce biofuels today (e.g. in hydrotreated vegetable oils) and replacing unabated fossil hydrogen with renewable hydrogen in biofuel production pathways. This will further reduce their carbon footprint. It is expected that hydrogen will continue playing a key role to produce advanced biofuels, e.g. via hydrotreatment and to improve efficiency of fuel synthesis from biobased synthesis gas.

The workshop ‘Biomass and Hydrogen – Allies or Net Zero” concluded with a set of actionable next steps to accelerate progress:

• The sector needs to move from theory to practice
• Deployment must focus on hard-to-abate sectors
• Innovation must continue to be supported
• Policy and regulation must catch up with innovation
• Building alliances will accelerate progressCommunication will play a central role in shaping public and political support

More information on the programme, including the video recording and the PDFs of the presentations at the workshop can be found here.