The role of bioenergy in the energy transition, and implications on the global use of biomass

Jan 2025
Publications

This commentary by experts involved in IEA Bioenergy provides insights in the amount of bioenergy in the IEA Net Zero Emissions for 2050 roadmap, the associated sourcing of biomass, the specific role of biomass in different sectors and the importance of biogenic carbon management.

Download the full commentary “The role of bioenergy in the energy transition, and implications on the global use of biomass”

Main messages:

  • In IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 roadmap (NZE), a total energy supply of around 100 EJ would be provided by biomass, up from 60 EJ currently.
  • 60% of the required biomass would consist of waste and residue streams such as agriculture and forestry residues, industrial side-streams and organic municipal waste. The other 40% would be obtained from crops and trees that are either produced along with food and feed crops or in dedicated bioenergy crop cultivations. The increase in short-rotation woody or grassy biomass production in marginal lands and pastureland would also have a positive impact on emissions from land use.
  • Total land use for bioenergy crops in the NZE scenario would amount to 140 million hectares in 2050, i.e. 3% of global agricultural area. This area is below estimated ranges of potential land availability, taking full account of sustainability constraints.
  • Electricity: Biomass use for electricity generation can support expansion of intermittent renewables such as solar PV and wind, to accelerate decarbonization. In the IEA NZE roadmap, 5% of power production would come from bioenergy, playing a role in firming up the power grid (dominated by renewables). Moreover, heat-driven biomass Combined Heat and Power (bio-CHP) systems can be highly efficient and co-produce power in periods when solar power is at its lowest.
  • Transport: While biofuels provide an immediate option to replace fossil fuels for the existing ICE-dominated road fleet while electrification comes in, demand from aviation (sustainable aviation fuel, SAF), maritime shipping (e.g. biobased diesel, bio-methanol, bio-LNG) and also long-distance heavy duty land transport (renewable diesel) are expected to grow.
  • Industrial applications: biobased fuels can replace fossil fuels in existing applications, and biomass can be used for metallurgical applications to replace coal. Biomass and biogases are also suited to provide high temperature heat for industrial processes.
  • Negative emissions, such as from Bioenergy combined with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), provide a pathway to offset residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, including agriculture. Biomass can also contribute significantly to climate change mitigation via biochar, a co-product of thermal treatment. Biochar carbon is highly stable, persisting for hundreds to thousands of years when used as a soil amendment.
  • Biogenic CO2 emissions should not be treated in the same way as fossil CO2 emissions, and the carbon uptake during plant growth should be taken into account when assessing climate impacts of bioenergy, BECCS, biochar and other biobased products.
  • It should be recognised that harvesting (for materials and energy), as part of sustainable forest management, rejuvenates the forest system, sustains tree growth and carbon uptake from the atmosphere, improves forest health and reduces risks and impacts of wildfires and other natural disturbances such as storms, droughts and insect infestations. When combined with BECCS it effectively moves biogenic carbon from uncertain terrestrial stores to more secure geological storage.

Evolution of total energy supply in the IEA Net Zero by 2050 roadmap.