Powering Tomorrow with Biomass: Options and Constraints

Abstract

Biomass is a multifaceted renewable resource capable of displacing fossil fuels while alleviating agricultural and municipal waste burdens. Derived from residues, forestry by-products, dedicated energy crops, and MSW, it can be converted to solid, liquid, and gaseous carriers via thermochemical (combustion, pyrolysis, gasification) and biochemical (anaerobic digestion, fermentation) pathways. This review appraises global resource endowments, conversion technologies, sustainability implications, and techno-economic performance, applying comparative benchmarks for efficiency, levelized cost, and life-cycle GHG intensity. Evidence suggests biomass could supply ~20% of primary energy by 2050 under supportive policies, but constraints remain—feedstock logistics, land-use competition, and scale-up needs. Future progress hinges on hybrid process configurations, systematic waste valorization, and integration with carbon capture to ensure durable climate benefits and economic viability.