Japan remains frontrunner in global biomass market

The global market for energy from solid biomass continues to grow, and Japan will remain the strongest growth market worldwide, according to ecoprog's annual study on the use of solid biomass for energy.
In Europe, the market is driven by the increasing demand for renewable heat. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is becoming increasingly relevant. Until 2033, ecoprog expects more than 1,200 biomass power plants with a total capacity of over 18.5 GWel to be operational worldwide.
ecoprog's 15th edition of its study states that, last year, the number of biomass power plants worldwide grew by around 110 plants, reaching a total capacity of more than 1.5 GWel.
Asia is the strongest region by far, with an increase of over 1.1 GWel.
In Asia, Japan remains the market with the largest expected capacity increase. Many projects of various sizes are still being announced and realised here. China has experienced a market slump in recent years, due to reduced subsidies. Some emerging markets in Southeast Asia offer great potential.
In Europe, the market for electricity from biomass is slowing down, while the heating market is becoming increasingly relevant, said ecoprog.
The demand for renewable heat from biomass is high, both for industry and for district heating - a trend that can be observed in Germany, for example.
Spain remains an exception, with many larger projects of around 50 MWel that are being subsidised by biomass auctions. This makes Spain the largest European growth market for electricity from biomass over the next 10 years.
In addition to the demand for heat, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) will become ever more important as a market driver, with large projects in the UK and Sweden, according to the organisation.
In North America, the market outlook is uncertain. On the one hand, the Inflation Reduction Act offers incentives in the USA. Several large BECCS projects are located here as well. On the other, funding under the new government is unclear. In Central and South America, Brazil continues to dominate the market thanks to its strong sugar and ethanol industry. Other countries such as Argentina have great potential but are characterised by political uncertainties.