Bioenergy statistics demonstrate the potential of greener, more sustainable forms of power is growing worldwide. As governments around the globe continue to invest in eco-friendly solutions for energy, and fossil fuels become less accessible, demand for bioenergy solutions is beginning to explode.
Generated from organic matter, from plants and timber to food and waste, bioenergy can provide a clean and consistent source of energy for the planet’s needs. Many countries are now investing in new strategies to produce significant percentages of their annual energy through bioenergy.
Let’s take a closer look at the bioenergy statistics demonstrating the incredible potential and opportunity this landscape has to offer for the years ahead.
Bioenergy Statistics
1. In 2019 bioenergy accounted for 11.6% of total energy consumption worldwide.
(C2ES)
In 2019, the use of bioenergy represented about 11.6 percent of global energy consumption. This is a pretty significant number—but it’s not the biggest source of energy, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that all forms of bioenergy are being used in a way that’s environmentally friendly.
So what exactly is bioenergy? In short, it’s energy that comes from organic matter, such as plants and animal waste. It can be used as a heat source or burned to produce electricity, and it can also be converted into liquid fuels (such as biodiesel) for cars and trucks to run on.
One thing you should know about bioenergy: not all kinds of bioenergy are good for the environment. Some agricultural practices around producing “biofuels” like corn-based ethanol can actually increase carbon dioxide emissions… but some plants, like switchgrass and algae, could actually be really good sources of fuel because they grow quickly and don’t require a lot of resources to raise them!
2. The global bioenergy market will be worth $217.8 billion by 2030
(Allied Market Research)
A report by Allied Market Research on the growth of the bioenergy market overall between the years of 2020 and 2030 shows exceptional growth for the industry.
The global bioenergy market was valued at $102.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit a new value of $217.8 billion in 2030. This represents a CAGR of 7.6% from 2021 to 2030.
The report revealed the Covid-19 outbreak has had a negative impact on the global bioenergy market due to the temporary ban on import and export transportation activities responsible for disrupting the supply chain.
However, growth of the market is likely to begin again, thanks to the increasing demand for energy generated by sustainable solutions.
3. The global biofuels market was worth $110 billion in 2021
(Statista)
According to a report published on Statista looking at the global biofuels market between the years of 2020 and 2030, the industry was worth around $110 billion dollars in 2021. This was a decrease of around 9% from the previous year.
Despite a drop in figures, the report suggests demand for biofuel will begin to rise again for the next 8 years, up to 2030. By the time we reach 2030, the report suggests the market will be worth around $201.2 billion dollars, with the Middle East and Africa experiencing the highest CAGR.
(WBA)
Biofuels are fantastic—they’re renewable, sustainable, and can actually be less expensive than fossil fuels. They’re not perfect, of course, but they’re a great alternative to gas if you’re concerned about the environment.
Biofuels are typically produced by two methods:
- The thermal method: Using heat to break down organic materials into biofuel
- The biological method: Using living organisms like bacteria and yeast to turn organic materials into biofuels.
In 2018, the global production of bioethanol was at around 160 billion liters.
The most used biofuel in the world is bioethanol, which accounts for a whopping 62% of all biofuels on the planet, followed by FAME biodiesel, which has a 26% share of the global market. The remaining 12% is made up of other biodiesels, biogasoline, and biomethanol.
5. The Middle East and Africa’s Biofuel markets are growing the fastest
(Statista)
A Statista report published on the growth of the Biofuels market between the years of 2020 and 2030 found the Middle East and Africa to be the fastest-growing areas for the industry, with a CAGR of 9.6% in the forecast period.
The second-fastest-growing region in the report was Asia, at a rate of 5.5%, followed by North America at 5.2% and Latin America at 4.4%. Europe appears to be the slowest-growing region at this time with a CAGR of only 4%.
(Allied Market Research)
In 2020, the liquid biofuel market maintained the largest market share, attributed to the rising demand for liquid biofuels for transportation applications like passenger vehicles and airplanes.
An additional increase in demand for liquid biofuels was also recorded in the building and construction sector.
The Allied Market Research insights build on previous reports from Fortune Business Insights, which indicates the global development of biofuel in liquid form has been increasing.
Between 2017 and 2018, the production of biofuels in the liquid form increased by nearly 7%, reaching approximately 154 liters.
Europe is the largest producer and consumer of biodiesel in the world, responsible for producing around 35% of the global share.
7. Heat generation represents the primary application for bioenergy
(Fortune Business Insights)
A study by Fortune Business Insights into the bioenergy market indicates the heat generation segment has the most potential for growth. Based on application, the market can usually be segmented into heat creation, power generation, and transportation.
The heat generation space is expected to lead the market in generating growth up to 2030 because biofuels are most commonly used for the generation of heat, particularly in the Middle East and African regions, as well as Europe.
Bioenergy for heat in the EU is anticipated to experience an increase of around 8% by 2023, to reach around 3.5 Exajoule.
8. The global biomass power market was worth $121.34 billion in 2021
(Grandview Research)
According to a report from Grandview Research on the potential of the Biomass power market, the full global market was valued at around $121,34 billion in 2021.
The industry is also expected to exhibit a reasonably slow annual growth rate of around 6% between the years of 2022 and 2030.
Grandview Research notes the market has witnessed some growth in recent years due to a rise in environmental concerns, which has pushed more countries to increase their focus on renewable energy in their power mixture. Countries like India, Germany, the UK, China, and France have already announced their own renewable energy targets.
In the US, Grandview Research notes the US witnessed a biomass power capacity addition of around 177 MW in 2019 through the introduction of 14 new projects. Another 384 MW of biomass power projects are also underway in various development stages throughout the country.
9. In 2020, the UK had 78 Operational Biomass plants
(Statista)
Though the UK might not be the largest country in the world for Biomass and Bioenergy production as of yet, the potential of the country is growing rapidly.
The total installed capacity of the 78 operational biomass plants in the UK (including co-firing and dedicated plans) amounted to around 4,158 megawatts in September 2020.
Currently, the Drax Biomass Power Station Unity 1 has the largest capacity of all operational biomass plants in the UK, at 645 megawatts.
In 2019 alone, the UK generated 37,314 gigawatt-hours of electricity and heat using biomass.
10. Biodiesel made up 64% of the verified renewable fuel in the UK in 2020
(Gov.uk)
The Renewable Fuel Statistics report produced by the Department of Transport and Gov.UK revealed biodiesel made up around 64% of verified renewable fuel for the region during 2020.
Furthermore, Bioethanol made up 22% of the country’s verified renewable fuel, and waste feedstocks made up 76% of the verified renewable fuel.
In total, 75% of the biodiesel produced in the region was made from used cooking oil, while around 31% of the bioethanol created came from corn. As a portion of total fuel, renewable fuel made up around 5.9% of the fuel supplies in the UK in 2020.
11. Biofuel demand is set to increase by 28% in the next 4 years
(IEA)
According to a report from the IEA in 2021, the demand for biofuel is forecast to increase by around 28% globally in the next five years, reaching around 186 billion liters.
So far, the IEA says the US has led the world in terms of volume increase, but much of the growth is a rebound from the massive drop created by the pandemic.
Currently, Asia accounts for around 30% of the new production of biofuel forecasted between 2020 and 2026, overtaking European biofuel production by 2026.
The IEA believes this increase in production is owed largely to strong domestic policies, as well as a growing liquid fuel demand and a higher export-driven production cycle.
12. China is the largest investor in renewable energy
(UNEP)
The United Nations Environment Program report titled “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment” for 2019 found China has been the most significant investor in renewable energy for the last decade, spending approximately $760 billion on the sector between 2010 and 2019. This is more than double the $356 billion investment made by the United States.
The entire continent of Europe was the second biggest investor in renewable energy according to the report, spending around $698 in total. China, therefore, leads the world in terms of solar and wind energy produced, it’s also one of the major investors in bioenergy solutions.
13. The US could shift to 90% renewable energy by 2035 with no extra cost
(Berkley 2035 Energy Report)
Researchers from the University of Berkley have addressed questions about the potential of Bioenergy as a tool for making the world 100% sustainable and energy-efficient.
According to the researchers, though it might not be reasonable to assume the US could go 100% renewable with its energy any time soon, it’s possible to achieve around a 90% zero-carbon power solution.
Only around 10% of our power supply may have to come from fossil fuels in the future, with the rest coming from bioenergy, solar, and wind-powered solutions.
14. Biomass was the source of around 1.4% of energy in the US in 2020
(IEA)
According to the US Energy Information Administration, the percentage of companies and groups leveraging sustainable forms of energy is increasing – although somewhat slowly.
Fossil fuels are still the largest source of electricity generation in 2020, accounting for about 40% of energy. Coal was the third-largest energy source for the US, creating about 19% of electricity.
Elsewhere, hydropower plants produced around 7.3% of US energy and made up one of the largest sources of renewable energy in the country, combined with wind energy (8.4%). Currently, Biomass, a form of bioenergy was the source of around 1.4% of US energy in total.
According to EIA, there were around 178 biomass power generating facilities in the US in 2018, capable of generating around 6,374 MW of power in total.
15. Georgia was the largest consumer of biomass in the US in 2019
(Statista)
Although the US, like many countries around the world, is increasing its focus on renewable and sustainable energy sources, some states are more forward-thinking than others.
According to a graph published on Statista in 2021, Georgia was the largest consumer of biomass and wood waste in the United States with a consumption of around 207.5 trillion British Thermal units.
Interestingly, Alabama and Florida came in with second and third place in this graph, consuming 166 and 156 trillion British thermal units each.
16. Ethiopia’s energy supply is 92.9% biomass
(World Atlas)
Biomass is one of the most common forms of bioenergy. This substance is made of various forms of biodegradable substances like coconut husks and wood, which can be burned to generate electricity.
According to World Atlas, some countries are more naturally focused on the use of biomass as their central energy supply than others.
The study found around 92.9% of the energy produced in Ethiopia comes from biomass and combustible waste usage. In terms of biomass usage, Ethiopia is followed by counties like DR Congo (92.2%), Tanzania (85%), Nigeria (81.5%), and Haiti (81%).
17. Global biofuel production increased by 5% per year between 2010 and 2019
(IEA)
Studies by the IEA suggest the demand for and use of biofuel and bioenergy solutions has been increasing consistently since 2010. In the last decade, the global consumption of biofuel has increased by an average of 5% per year.
However, the IEA also notes the Net Zero scenario’s ambition of 14% annual growth between 2021 and 2030 will require much stronger policies in the landscape. Despite this, regions like North America, Europe, and Asia are making progress in the right direction.
18. Combustion is the primary technology for biomass power as of 2021
(Grandview Research)
According to Grandview Research, on the basis of technologies, the global market for power generated by biomass is usually categorized into gasification, combustion, and anaerobic digestion.
From a revenue perspective, the combustion segment dominated the landscape for 2021 and accounted for a share of around 88% of the global revenue.
The focus on combustion as a major technology solution is expected to continue in the future, with the segment showing a steady rate of growth according to the current study.
19. Biofuels produced from wastes could account for 45% of biofuels consumed by 2030
(IEA)
According to the IEA, biofuels produced from residues, wastes, and dedicated crops designed not to compete with food crops can make up around 45% of the biofuels to be consumed by 2030, in the group’s “Net Zero” scenario. This will be a massive increase from the 2020 percentage (7%).
The IEA also notes used cooking oils and waste animal fats provide the majority of non-crop-related feedstocks for biofuel production. However, given these feedstocks are limited, new technologies may need to be developed to expand different forms of biofuel production.
Conclusion
Bioenergy is a complex topic. From the many different types of biofuel to the impacts of using them, it can be hard to keep track of everything. The world of bioenergy is constantly changing, which is why we’re committed to staying on top of all the latest trends and statistics.
That’s why we created this list—to give you a jumping off point for learning more about the most important facets of bioenergy.
Even though there are many challenges facing the bioenergy industry, we’re confident that it will continue to be an important part of our country’s future. We’ll see new technologies developed, new ways to generate energy and more jobs created as a result.
Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed this article! If you have any questions or comments, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you!
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