EIA data shows plateau of biomass electricity generation

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed that growth in electricity generated from biomass has ended in the last two years.

Electricity generated from biomass totalled 70.6 million MWh in 2018, contributing 2% of total US electricity generation.

After growing from 2004 to 2014, the EIA’s data results showed that in 2018, biomass electricity generation was 2% below 2014’s peak of 71.7 million MWh.

Four feedstocks accounted for more than 94% of biomass and waste electricity generation in 2018: wood solids, black liquor, municipal solid waste (MSW) and landfill gas. Other waste accounted for the final 6%.

Wood solids were the largest feedstock for biomass and waste electricity generation, accounting for 21.4 million MWh in 2018, or 30% of total biomass and waste electricity generation.

Black liquor, a byproduct of making wood pulp, accounted for 28% of biomass and waste electricity generation in 2018.