Review of feedstock supply for bioenergy in selected IEA Bioenergy member countries

This report introduces a structured framework for assessing and tracking the availability of biomass feedstocks for bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts. Based on detailed analysis of eight countries (Australia, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, United States), the study evaluates biomass flows, accessibility, and sustainability considerations. The report is produced by IEA Bioenergy Task 43 (Biomass Supply in a Nature Positive Circular Economy).

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Understanding the potential biomass supply for available for bioenergy and biofuel production is challenging. Required datasets are often missing or generated inconsistently, making it difficult to understand year-to-year availability. A number of different units are used to track biomass in different sectors, and converting between these units is confounded as yields, densities, and energy content varies from feedstock to feedstock. Typically, bioenergy capitalizes on feedstocks that are not suitable for higher value applications, are available in suitable quantities at centralized locations, and are economically viable. A significant gap exists in terms of understanding the flow of diverse feedstocks to bioenergy production, and in terms of understanding potentially accessible and inaccessible fibre. This lack of information serves as a barrier, preventing policymakers and decision makers from substantiating the role of bioenergy in the wider circular bioeconomy, and in terms of understanding residues and waste streams within the production systems.

This report has two primary objectives:

1. to define and inform a framework for tracking biomass feedstocks and potential availability for bioenergy, biofuel, and bioproduct use
2. to provide an update on the availability of different types of biomass feedstocks that are (or can be) used for bioenergy within Task 43 countries.

The report can be a supportive tool for policy makers responsible for energy, agriculture, forestry, waste management, and climate planning, as it may offer a consistent foundation for evidence-based policymaking and cross-sector alignment.

Proposed biomass feedstock classification system (simplified).