Online Workshop on Sustainable Biomass Availability and Mobilisation Main session 1

The IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) organised an online Workshop on Sustainable Biomass Availability and Mobilisation, which was held in two identical sessions to accommodate participants from different parts of the world. Session 1: 8:30 – 10:30 CEST Session 2: 16:00 – 18:00 CEST The workshop addressed the challenges and opportunities related to the sustainable availability of biomass for energy and materials, including resources from forestry, agriculture, industry, and municipal wastes and residues. Discussions highlighted how biomass is often perceived as a limited resource and how its sustainable mobilisation can be complex due to its dispersed availability across locations and seasons. Participants also examined the specific feedstock requirements of different end-use applications, which often necessitate dedicated handling, logistics, and pre-treatment processes. The importance of ensuring a reliable and sustainable biomass supply while maintaining economic viability was a central theme throughout the event. The workshop also emphasised the current and future role of biomass as a key contributor to renewable energy deployment, alongside other renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal energy. Furthermore, participants explored the growing importance of biobased materials in replacing fossil carbon-based products and energy-intensive materials, while also enabling long-term carbon storage. Reference was made to the International Energy Agency’s 2025 World Energy Outlook, which projects in its Stated Policies Scenario that the deployment of modern bioenergy could increase from approximately 40 EJ in 2024 to around 75 EJ by 2050. These projections were discussed in the broader context of global energy demand, which currently exceeds 500 EJ and is expected to reach 700–750 EJ by 2035 and beyond, depending on the scenario considered. The main objective of the workshop was to explore strategies for securing sufficient biomass availability and organising sustainable upstream biomass mobilisation. Particular attention was given to balancing biomass use with other essential functions of biogenic resources, including food and feed security, biodiversity conservation, soil health, nutrient cycling, and social sustainability. Recognising that these issues are often viewed differently across regions, the workshop was delivered twice on the same day to maximise global participation. Interactive sessions encouraged the exchange of perspectives and experiences among participants from different parts of the world, fostering a broad discussion on pathways toward sustainable biomass supply and mobilisation.