Biomass is expected to account for 2.33% of U.S. renewable electricity generation this year, falling to 2.1% in 2025. Biomass accounted for 2.44% of U.S. renewable electricity generation in 2023, according to EIA data.
Biomass was used to generate 21.1 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity last year, with generation expected to increase to 22.6 billion kWh this year and reach 22.1 billion kWh in 2025.
The electric power sector had 2.9 gigawatts (GW) oof waste biomass and 2.4 GW of wood biomass generation capacity in place as of the end of 2023. Those levels of capacity are expected to remain stable throughout 2024 and 2025.
The industrial sector had 5.3 GW of wood biomass capacity in place at the end of 2023, with capacity expected to remain at that level in 2024, increasing to 5.4 GW in 2025. The industrial sector also had 1.4 GW of waste biomass capacity in place as of the end of last year, with that level of capacity expected to be maintained in both 2024 and 2025.
The electric sector consumed 0.167 quadrillion Btus (quad) of waste biomass last year, with consumption expected to fall to 0.166 quad this year and 0.162 quad next year. The sector also consumed 0.162 quad of wood biomass in 2023, with consumption expected to reach 0.189 quad this year and 0.185 quad in 2025.
The industrial sector consumed 0.16 quad of waste biomass in 2023 and is expected to consume 0.159 quad in both 2024 and 2025. Wood biomass consumption was at 1.232 quad in 2023 and is expected to reach 1.335 quad in 2024 and 1.364 quad in 2025.
The commercial sector consumed 0.071 quad of waste biomass and 0.082 quad of wood biomass last year. Those levels of consumption are expected to be maintained both this year and next year.
The residential sector is expected to consume 0.448 quad of wood biomass in 2024 and 2025, flat with 2023.
Across all sectors, waste biomass consumption was at 0.397 quad in 2023 and is expected to fall to 0.396 quad this year and 0.391 quad next year. Wood biomass consumption was at 1.923 quad last year and is expected to increase to 2.054 quad in 2024 and 2.079 quad in 2025.
