Biomass exclusion must be weighed against benefits of carbon supply in European energy system
Journal article, 2025

Biomass provides renewable carbon, which is more valuable than the energy in biomass itself for achieving stringent emissions targets. Excluding biomass from the European energy system increases energy system costs by ~20% in a net-negative emissions scenario, similar to excluding wind power or electrolytic hydrogen. Policies limiting biomass (residue) use likely need to be accompanied by strong policies to support a greater deployment of clean electricity, electrolytic hydrogen and direct air capture to achieve European emissions targets. Carbon capture and bio-electrofuels can increase the value of biomass by enhancing biogenic carbon utilization, thereby moderating biomass demand. Bioenergy with carbon capture is more cost-competitive than direct air capture under a wide range of assumptions, which may inhibit direct air capture deployment unless targeted by policy.

Author

Markus Millinger

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Fredrik Hedenus

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

E. Zeyen

Technische Universität Berlin

F. Neumann

Technische Universität Berlin

Lina Reichenberg

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Göran Berndes

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Nature Energy

20587546 (eISSN)

Vol. 10 2 159-161

Bridging current knowledge gaps to enable the UPTAKE of carbon dioxide removal methods (UPTAKE)

European Commission (EC) (EC/HE/101081521), 2023-09-01 -- 2027-08-31.

Biokraft för variationshantering och/eller negativa utsläpp

Swedish Energy Agency (2020-004542), 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Resilient Energy System Infrastructure Layouts for Industry, E-Fuels and Network Transitions

Swedish Energy Agency (2023-00888), 2023-12-01 -- 2027-03-31.

Systems analysis of biomass and carbon capture across energy sectors

Swedish Energy Agency (P2021-00067), 2022-07-01 -- 2024-12-31.

Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)

Bioenergy

Other Environmental Engineering

Environmental Sciences

Energy Systems

Infrastructure

Chalmers e-Commons (incl. C3SE, 2020-)

DOI

10.1038/s41560-024-01685-6

More information

Latest update

3/15/2025