The recently published IEA Bioenergy factsheet (June 2025) looks at how bioenergy relates to the natural carbon cycle and what role it can play in climate mitigation. The gist: although burning bioenergy also releases CO₂, this is mostly biogenic. The plant absorbs that same CO₂ during growth, which can reduce net emissions to zero.
Why is that different from fossil?
Fossil fuels have been underground for millions of years. When burned, they release carbon that has not been actively part of the atmospheric cycle during that time. Bioenergy, on the other hand, promotes a closed cycle: CO₂ goes in, grows into biomass, and is later released again during use. With good timing and balance, this leads to a neutral effect on the climate.
Possibilities and innovative applications
The factsheet points to innovative applications such as capturing and reusing CO₂ during fermentation, for example in ethanol production. This paves the way to CO₂ capture and storage (BECCS) and using CO₂ as a raw material in new bioproducts.
For example, a case study in Brazil showed that by capturing CO₂ from sugarcane ethanol fermentation, additional ethanol or building blocks for oil and starch can be produced via novel biotechnologies.
BECCS: From bioenergy to negative emissions
An important development point is Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). This not only allows for zero-emissions work, but also for net CO₂ removal from the atmosphere. According to the IPCC, some BECCS systems can capture up to tens of gigatons of CO₂ per year. However, the fact sheet emphasises that with large-scale roll-out, the sustainability of biomass, water use and land use remain critical factors.
Sustainability and scalability
IEA stresses that bioenergy will only provide real climate benefits if:
- Carbon balance correct – emissions from harvesting, transport and processing must not exceed CO₂ absorption;
- Sustainable origin – biomass must be sourced using sustainable agriculture or forest management;
- Systems thinking – it cannot simply replace fossil fuels on current scale without additional pressure on land and biodiversity.
Global scenarios for 1,5–2 °C mitigation emphasise these conditions: bioenergy can be important, but not at the expense of food security and nature.
What does this mean for the Netherlands?
There are two important lessons for the Netherlands and Europe:
- Modern bioenergy can be part of the energy mix, provided that biomass does not come from “replacement forests” but from residual flows or sustainable crops.
- Policy instruments such as certification and carbon budgeting are needed to ensure that carbon benefits are not offset by chain emissions.
- BECCS and CO₂ reuse offer potential, but must be scaled up responsibly, with an eye for sustainability.
Understanding the carbon balance is crucial
IEA Bioenergy makes it clear with this publication that bioenergy only contributes to climate gain if it is part of a carefully designed system. This requires sustainable origin of biomass, transparent chains and technologies that go beyond just energy production. CO₂ capture and reuse can make the difference. But the core remains: without a good insight into the carbon balance, bioenergy is not a solution, but a risk. That is precisely why this fact sheet is important. It helps policymakers, companies and citizens better understand what is needed to use biomass responsibly.
