Biomass remains a controversial yet essential component of Europe’s energy transition, according to researchers at Sweden’s RISE research institute.
While forest residues already supply a significant share of renewable energy in the EU, experts argue that biomass must be used more efficiently as competition intensifies between energy production, industrial uses and carbon storage.
Karin Pettersson, an energy systems researcher at RISE, says the debate should move beyond biomass combustion alone. “Forest residues are an important resource for renewable energy in the EU, but we need new, more efficient ways of utilising them,” she explains. Technologies such as bio-CCS — which captures and permanently stores biogenic carbon dioxide — can generate negative emissions, while combining biomass or biogenic CO₂ with hydrogen enables the production of fuels and chemicals for hard-to-abate sectors.
Prioritising green carbon atoms
Under the EU Green Deal, biomass is expected to contribute to multiple objectives, from energy security to climate mitigation. Yet supply remains limited, making prioritisation unavoidable. Pettersson points to aviation as a clear example. “Looking at scenarios to 2050, electrification will only phase out a small proportion of aviation emissions,” she notes, underlining the continued need for sustainable fuels derived from biomass or green carbon.
Similar constraints apply to maritime transport and the chemical industry, where biomass offers a renewable source of carbon that fossil-based alternatives currently dominate. In parallel, large-scale carbon storage will be required to offset emissions that are difficult or costly to eliminate, particularly if Europe is to move beyond net-zero toward net-negative emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.
Carbon value outweighs energy value
Markus Millinger, a researcher at RISE specialising in energy system modelling, frames the issue as a system-wide trade-off. In a study published in Nature Energy, he found that the long-term value of carbon atoms from biomass exceeds the value of the energy they provide.
“The more sustainable biomass we agree to use, the easier the energy transition will be,” Millinger says. However, he cautions that market forces alone are unlikely to allocate biomass optimally. Clear policy frameworks and coordinated action at both national and EU levels will be required to guide its use toward applications that deliver the greatest climate benefit.
Research and policy alignment
At RISE, biomass is being examined from multiple perspectives, combining long-term energy system analysis with technology development and pilot-scale testing. The institute supports companies seeking to scale technologies that convert biomass and carbon dioxide into fuels, chemicals and materials, while also providing objective analysis to policymakers.
“Biomass is a multifaceted topic that often triggers strong reactions,” Millinger adds. “As researchers, our role is to describe the system objectively and share insights with decision-makers across the energy and biomass sectors.”
This perspective is echoed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, which continues to view sustainably produced biofuels as a key driver of Sweden’s path to net-zero emissions, even as biodiversity concerns around forest residues remain under scrutiny. As demand for biomass grows, researchers agree that its future role will depend less on volume than on how strategically and efficiently it is used across Europe’s energy and industrial systems.
RISE is Sweden’s national research institute, conducting applied research in areas such as energy systems, bioeconomy and climate to support industry and policymakers.
