According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), bioenergy accounts for 55% of the total renewable energy and more than 6% of the global energy supply. It is the largest source of renewable energy in the world. According to the IEA's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE), a rapid increase is expected in the bioenergy implementation by 2030. From 2010 to 2022, the use of modern bioenergy has increased by nearly 3% per year. The NZE requires the deployment to increase by 8% per year from 2022 to 2030, to be on track with its zero emission targets.
The report also mentions the efforts by countries toward bioenergy transition. For instance, in 2022, the US announced that it would strengthen its bioenergy value chain, under the Inflation Reduction Act. In May 2022, the US Department of Energy announced awards of nearly $178 million for advanced innovative research in biomaterials, bioproducts, and biotechnology. The Economic Development Administration announced investing over $200 million to enhance the bio-economy of the country, via its billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Investments in states such as New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Oregon, and Alaska will strengthen the bio-economy by enhanced biotechnology and biomanufacturing programs. Similarly, the European Union agreed to strengthen the sustainability criteria of using biomass to produce energy in March 2023, under a provisional agreement with the council and parliament to update the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). In 2022, it also established a goal to reach 36 billion cubic meters of annual biomethane production by 2030, compared to the 3.5 billion cubic meters of production in 2022.
Countries are working towards improving their renewable energy capacity. For instance, on January 18, Reuters reported that Indonesia, one of the biggest producers of biomass energy pledges to triple its biomass power generation consumption in 2024, reaching 2.83 million metric tonnes. In 2023, the country consumed a total of 991,000 tonnes of power produced from biomass. Indonesia is one of the top coal producing countries in the world. Its fossil fuel production accounted for 67% of the total power generation in 2023. Due to its high carbon emissions, it is also one of the countries that produce the most pollution in the world. Over 30% of the biomass Indonesia would use for its biomass production will come from sawdust, with other sources including woodchip, rice husks, and palm kernel waste providing the rest. Reuters cited the data from its energy authorities reporting that 47 coal power plants in Indonesia will mix 3-5% of the biomass in their fuel in 2024, compared to 43 plants in 2023.
The contribution of bioenergy is expected to increase by 2030, reaching the NZE targets. It also provides negative emissions through carbon capture and storage technologies. Its captured carbon dioxide is expected to reach a staggering 190 megatonnes by 2030. Among its applications, fuels such as bio-jet kerosene are projected to hold a share of 10% of all aviation fuel demand by 2030. Bioenergy electric generation is expected to reach 1,300 terawatt-hours by 2030.
A Startup Driving the Next Generation of Biofuels
Terragia Biofuel is a leading technology startup aimed at driving the growth of biofuels. It converts cellulosic biomass into ethanol and other products by utilizing engineered thermophilic bacteria. It offers cost-effective and sustainable production of biofuels, by avoiding high-cost conventional production techniques. It adopts one-step consolidated bioprocessing and leverages mechanical disruptions during fermentation instead of thermochemical treatments. On March 28, the company announced that it has raised $6 million in funding, in a seed round led by Engine Ventures and Energy Impact Partners. The company will utilize the capital raised to commercialize its bio-based ethanol production technology and other products, It also plans to increase its workforce and initiate collaboration with major biofuel producers. You can also check out the
Some of the major players in the bioenergy industry include Drax Group plc (OTC:DRXGY), Fortum Oyj (OTC:FOJCY), and Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW).
Drax Group plc (OTC:DRXGY) is a leading renewable power generation company in the United Kingdom. It is engaged in various business segments including, pellet production, generation, dispatchable power, and provision of electricity services to non-domestic customers. Its pellet production segment is involved in the development and sale of biomass pellets. It operates and owns a sludge processing plant, the Daldowie fuel plant, which converts sludge into low-odour dry fuel pellets. On January 16, Drax Group plc (OTC:DRXGY) announced that the UK government has approved the development of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BEECS) technology at Drax Power Station. The technology will potentially remove 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, through biomass power generation. The power station has four biomass generation units, responsible for producing nearly 4% of the country's power and 9% of its renewable energy electricity.
Fortum Oyj (OTC:FOJCY) is an electrical services company, engaged in operating generation and cogeneration plants. It also provides sustainable city solutions which include waste-to-energy conversion services. Its bio-based product portfolio, Bio2X supports the transition from fossil fuels to renewable biobased sources. Fortum Oyj (OTC:FOJCY) leverages underutilized biomass for the production of high-value raw materials. Its second generation (2G) biorefineries use lignocellulosic feedstocks as raw material and convert non-wood lignocellulosic feedstocks such as straw and bamboo into raw materials useful for industries. The company has a joint venture refinery in India in partnership with Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and Chempolis, which is expected to start its operations this year. The biorefinery will leverage 200 kilotonnes of bamboo annually to produce bioethanol for Indian fuel markets. Its other products include furfural, acetic acid, and biocoal. The other 2G biorefinery of Fortum Oyj (OTC:FOJCY) in Europe will utilize straw as feedstock to produce cellulose fibers, sulfur-free lignin, furfural, and acetic acid on a kilotonne scale.
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW) is a renewable energy and emission control solutions company. Its renewable energy segment provides technologies that convert waste from land fuels for power generation, to replace fossil fuels and reduce emissions. Its hydrogen generation technology, BrightLoop, converts biomass and fuels into hydrogen. It also provides technologies for power generation through waste-to-energy conversion. Its biomass technology, OxyBright provides biomass to energy conversion for various industries. Its biomass technologies and services include water-cooled vibrating grate for biomass combustion, pretreatment technologies, biomass-fired BFB boiler technology, and ash extraction. The company combines its two technologies, biomass-fired BFB boiler technology, and OxyBright, which utilizes wet waste biomass from construction and demolition waste, agricultural byproducts, and forest litter to fuel its bubbling fluidized-bed boiler. On April 15, Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW) announced that its subsidiary, B&W Renewable Service has won a contract of $7 million to upgrade three commercial and municipal waste-fueled boilers and combustion equipment at a waste-to-energy power plant in Southeast Asia. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW) will provide water-cooled wear zones, water soot cleaning equipment, a secondary air system, and pressure parts to increase the plant's capacity and efficiency. You can also look at the Biggest Waste Management Companies in the World.
With this context, let's have a look at the 15 countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world.
15 Countries that Produce the Most Biomass Energy in the World
A pile of utility-grade wood pellets ready for use at a power generation facility.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 15 countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world, we utilized the Renewable Energy Statistics 2023 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. Our list ranks the countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world in ascending order of their bioenergy production in gigawatt-hours (GWh), as of 2021.
15 Countries that Produce the Most Biomass Energy in the World
15. France
Bioenergy Production (2021): 9,604 GWh
France is ranked among the countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world. In 2021, the country produced 9,604 GWh of bioenergy.
14. Canada
Bioenergy Production (2021): 10,128 GWh
Ranked 14th on our list, Canada produced 10,128 gigawatt-hours of biomass energy in 2021, as reported by the IRENA.
13. Netherlands
Bioenergy Production (2021): 10,883 GWh
The Netherlands is one of the countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world. The country generated 10,883 gigawatt-hours of biomass energy in 2021.
12. Sweden
Bioenergy Production (2021): 13,082 GWh
Sweden ranks 12th on our list. In 2021, its total bioenergy production reached 13,082 gigawatt-hours.
11. Finland
Bioenergy Production (2021): 13,579 GWh
Another country that produces the most biomass energy in the world is Finland. In 2021, its total bioenergy production reached 13,579 GWh.
10. Indonesia
Bioenergy Production (2021): 14,971 GWh
Indonesia produced 14,791 gigawatt-hours of bioenergy in 2021. It is ranked 10th on our list among the countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world.
9. Italy
Bioenergy Production (2021): 19,071 GWh
Italy is one of the top countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world. The country produced 19,071 gigawatt-hours in 2021.
8. Thailand
Bioenergy Production (2021): 22,135 GWh
Thailand is another biggest producer of biomass energy in the world. In 2021, ita bioenergy production reached 22,135 GWh.
7. India
Bioenergy Production (2021): 23,311 GWh
India produced 23,311 gigawatt-hours of bioenergy in 2021. It is ranked 7th on our list.
6. Japan
Bioenergy Production (2021): 34,172 GWh
Japan is ranked 6th on our list of the countries that produce the most biomass energy in the world. In 2021, the country produced 34,172 gigawatt-hours of bioenergy.
