Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Mapping and Synthesis of International Biomass Supply Assessment | 2025

The persistent question: “Is there enough sustainable biomass?” is often raised in the policy domain. The report “Mapping and Synthesis of International Biomass Supply Assessment” is the first step in a long-term process to assemble biomass data from across the globe into a virtual repository which can be updated and provide user-friendly access to data. This study was conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and commissioned by the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) after the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Biofuture Platform Initiative recommended that research be completed addressing the need for internationally accepted benchmarks quantifying sustainable biomass feedstock supplies.

In response to this question, the report estimates that over 2,800 million dry metric tonnes of sustainable biomass supplies is currently produced from the 62 nations accounted in the assessment. Current biomass production in Brazil, the USA, China, Indonesia and India is estimated to be the highest. By 2030, data projects that 2.13 billion dry metric tonnes of biomass resources will become available. However, this initial supply sum of biomass presents only a portion of potential global sourcing and thus remains incomplete. In addition, the requirements applied to quantify sustainable supplies varies among national assessments and further analysis and harmonisation is required.

The report is intended to provide a foundation and first step for a continuing process of improvement based on further collection and systematization of biomass data. With this assessment, the aim is to address the lack of reliable data on sustainable biomass supplies which hinders investments and public confidence in bio-based industries. Recommendations aiming to increase the consistency and utility of future sustainable biomass assessment report and datasets are provided. Data on biomass supplies is publicly available on a data-sharing portal and the dataset will be periodically updated and improved based on information submitted by stakeholders.

This initiative highlights the importance of stakeholder and nation collaboration as well as standardization in biomass assessment to support sustainable bioenergy strategies.

Download report and access to global biomass repository

Find the virtual global biomass repository by clicking here.

Read the full report with guidelines for future country assessments by clicking here or download on the right hand side.

‍