Bioenergy and Potential Implementation in the US

by Kate Downey

As renewable energy becomes more important, reaching sustainability goals will involve increasingly more forms of clean energy. Some of these forms have not yet been implemented to their fullest potential. For example, bioenergy is a renewable form of energy that comes from biological sources. Other countries have successfully made bioenergy a major player in their renewables sector, and it could be used more frequently in the U.S. But before looking at U.S. implementation, we first have to examine how sustainable bioenergy is, and how successful it has been in countries around the world. Only then can we determine the best strategy to increase our bioenergy efforts in the United States.

Bioenergy has been around for years, but it has become increasingly important as the transition to renewable energy has become more urgent. Biomass is useful because it can be converted into liquid fuels that can replace fossil fuels, making it an extremely versatile product that can be used in everything from transportation to manufacturing. Unlike other forms of renewable energy that rely on elements, bioenergy is not intermittent. This means that it can add flexibility and reliability to the electric grid, rather than limiting it. Although burning biomass releases CO2into the atmosphere, the plants used to create energy absorb almost the same amount of CO2through photosynthesis when they are growing (Department of Energy). In terms of sustainability, bioenergy is not the cleanest form of renewable energy, but its versatility and reliability are important to consider when choosing between sources.

Countries around the world have recognized the importance of bioenergy, and have increased their use of it accordingly. For example, Denmark has harnessed its agricultural industry to switch largely to bioenergy. Two-thirds of Denmark’s renewable energy is bioenergy, and many Danish power plants are switching from fossil fuels to biomass (Green Thinking). In Finland and Estonia as well, biofuels account for more than 15% of electricity production (IEA). The U.S., in contrast, only used biomass for about 5% of its energy needs in 2021 (SciLine). Although still a major producer of biomass materials, the U.S. has not implemented them to their fullest potential as other countries have done.

Like Denmark, the U.S. has a major agricultural sector that can be used to produce biomass. If the U.S. were to expand on its bioenergy efforts and increase its “bioeconomy,” the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that we would be able to produce 1 billion tons of non-food biomass annually by 2040. This could power 7 million households, produce up to 50 million gallons of biofuels, and create 1.1 million jobs (Department of Energy). Not only would this expand the U.S. economy, but it would keep energy production local, retaining earnings within the United States.

The main issue with bioenergy expansion in the U.S. would be ensuring that energy production remains carbon neutral. One part of achieving this would be sourcing wood pellets from scrap wood, rather than cutting down whole trees. Better yet, biomass could be sourced from non-wood products, as wood burns less efficiently than other vegetation (Speare-Cole). The general principle for biomass production should always be to use waste materials first, rather than sacrificing live plants. If biomass can be generated in this way, the U.S. will be able to harness a major source of energy.

When done right, bioenergy can be a huge asset to the renewable energy sector, and is a good step towards the elimination of fossil fuels. Many countries have been successful in their bioenergy endeavors, and the U.S. has potential to follow suit. However, biomass is considered one of the “dirtier” forms of renewable energy, so steps must be taken to ensure the sustainability of bioenergy. If the U.S. can pull this off, it will benefit our economy as well as our planet.

Works Cited 

Department of Energy. 2018. Bioenergy Basics. Energy.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-basics 

Green Thinking. 2020. Pioneers in Clean Energy. Denmark.dk. Retrieved on October 2, 2022, from https://denmark.dk/innovation-and-design/clean-energy 

IEA. November 2021. IEA Bioenergy Countries' Report. IEA Bioenergy. Retrieved on October 2, 2022, from 

https://www.ieabioenergy.com/blog/publications/iea-bioenergy-countries-report 

SciLine. August 26, 2020. Biomass Energy in the United States. Retrieved on October 2, 2022, from https://www.sciline.org/energy/renewable/biomass/ 

Speare-Cole, Rebecca. October 5, 2021. Biomass is Promoted as a Carbon Neutral Fuel. But is Burning Wood a Step in the Wrong Direction? The Guardian. Retrieved on October 2, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/04/biomass-plants-us-south-carbon