Synergies of green hydrogen and biobased value chains deployment
Hydrogen is a key element in achieving a climate-neutral energy system. While electrolytic hydrogen has attracted most attention, the conversion of biomass into renewable hydrogen—biohydrogen—offers a complementary and often underexplored opportunity. This report focuses on the potential, technologies, and development status of hydrogen production from biomass, highlighting synergies between bioenergy and the hydrogen economy.
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The state of biohydrogen development: challenges and benefits
The project identified and assessed technologies for hydrogen production from biomass, examining their technical maturity, economic potential and role in future low-carbon energy systems. Six case studies illustrate the breadth of approaches under development: Torrgas (Netherlands) converts torrefied biomass through two-stage gasification; Cortus WoodRoll® (Sweden) uses small-scale gasification to produce ultra-clean syngas; Bioflex (Sweden) demonstrates a two-step biological process for biohydrogen and methane generation; Hytron/NEA (Brazil) develops on-site ethanol reforming systems; Nissan (Brazil) integrates onboard ethanol reforming with fuel cell vehicles; and Hycamite TCD (Finland) splits methane catalytically into hydrogen and solid carbon.
Technologies across these examples are not yet commercial, their technology readiness levels range from TRL 4 to 7, with demonstration activities under way in several countries. The most significant challenges remain in fully integrated operation. Many of the pathways not only produce hydrogen but also generate co-products such as biochar, biocarbon and biomethane, adding value and system flexibility. Economic assessments indicate that biohydrogen can be cost-competitive with hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, particularly when co-products and carbon benefits are taken into account.
From a systems perspective, integrating renewable hydrogen and bioenergy offers several synergies. It can enhance overall energy efficiency and can provide continuous production independent of electricity fluctuations. Furthermore, it can contribute to negative emission solutions. These combined benefits underline the potential of biomass-based hydrogen as an important alternative or complementary route to power-based hydrogen in achieving climate-neutral energy systems.
Unlocking potential through policy support
Although biomass-derived hydrogen technologies are not yet commercial, they are advancing steadily. Policies and funding frameworks for hydrogen development should recognise biohydrogen as a key complementary route to electrolytic hydrogen. Most biohydrogen pathways require funding for demonstration projects to move from pilot to market scale. Integrating biohydrogen into hydrogen strategies can diversify supply, reduce reliance on renewable electricity markets, and increase energy system resilience.
This report is one of the products of IEA Bioenergy Inter-Task Project (ITP) “Synergies of Green Hydrogen and Biobased Value Chains Deployment”, conducted collaboratively by Task 33 (Gasification), Task 36 (Waste and Circular Economy), Task 39 (Transport Biofuels) and Task 44 (Energy system flexibility).
