IEA Bioenergy technical reports and newsletters
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IEA Technology Roadmap
IEA Bioenergy Task 32 : Biomass combustion
Contact: Kanchana Marasinghe
The current work programme includes:
Hybrid bioenergy heating systems – exploring hybrid combinations of biomass with technologies such as heat pumps, solar thermal, thermal storage, and other renewable energy systems.
Decarbonising industrial process heat with efficient and flexible bioenergy solutions – covering industrial boiler technologies, fuel flexibility, hybrid industrial heating systems, and agile/flexible bioenergy solutions for industry.
Biomass combustion with carbon capture and biochar production (BECCUS) – investigating carbon capture pathways, biochar production, and negative emissions opportunities associated with biomass combustion.
Sustainable residential heating and low-emission stove/boiler design and operation – focusing on low-emission residential heating technologies, market surveillance, user behaviour, technology innovation, and policy guidance.
The Task also covers topics such as fuel flexibility, industrial boiler technologies, hybrid systems with heat pumps and thermal storage, market surveillance, policy guidance, and emerging combustion technologies.
- Options for increased use of ash from biomass combustion and co-firing - This IEA Bioenergy Task 32 report provides an overview on present practices in ash management from biomass (co)combustion, based on country reports for experiences in different member countries of Task 32.
- Bioenergy for heat - the hot cases - This reports on fifteen case studies that show real life examples of modern and sustainable heating as well as co-generation of green power through biomass firing.
- Best practice report on decentralised biomass fired CHP plants and status of biomass fired small and micro-scale CHP technologies - Best practice report on decentralized biomass fired CHP plants and status of biomass fired small and micro-scale CHP technologies - In this report the most relevant technologies, including steam engines, ORC applications, Stirling engines and thermoelectric generators, the most important technical parameters and operational results, and experiences and boundary conditions for application are described and presented in fact sheets.
- The future role of thermal biomass power in renewable energy systems - The future role of Thermal Biomass Power in renewable energy systems - a study of Germany. In this analysis, development of the European power system is projected highlighting a thermal-dominated area, exemplified by Germany. The role of biomass technologies towards 2040 is analysed in two scenarios using a mathematical model of power and heat systems reproducing the day-ahead market dispatch and future development of the generation fleet.
- Aerosols from biomass combustion (full report) by Thomas Nussbaumer
- Aerosols from biomass combustion (summary report) by Thomas Nussbaumer
- Options for high percentage biomass confiring in new power plants, European Biomass Conference, Hamburg, Germany workshop
IEA Bioenergy Task 33 - Gasification of biomass and waste
IEA Bioenergy Task 34 - Direct thermochemical liquefaction
Contact - Francois Collard, Bioeconomy Science Institute
Task 34 is about direct thermochemical liquefaction (DTL) of sustainable biomass and bio-based waste. Global DTL liquid production is around 100 million litres per year, with the main application being heat or power. Current research is focussed on producing transportation biofuels (e.g. sustainable aviation and marine fuels), which are highly needed and could be produced in New Zealand. The task activities include dissemination of technology developments and validation of analytical methods to support the creation of biofuel standards. BSI scientists have written the report detailing the DTL commercial and demonstration facilities in 2023 and will publish an update in 2026. We have also been involved in the Round Robin study about homogeneity and composition analysis of DTL liquids and the report about the direct use of DTL liquids as fuels (see references below).
Collard, F.X., Wijeyekoon S., Bennett P. Commercial status of direct thermochemical liquefaction technologies. IEA Bioenergy Task 34 (2023)
Bulsink, P., Nguyen, L., Gupta, M., Collard, F.X., Funke, A., Jeaidi, J., Bronson, B. Interlaboratory study of sample homogeneity impact on CHNS, water, and ICP analysis of biomass liquefaction oils. Energy&Fuels (2025)
Tay, A., Collard, F.X., Castello, D., Sharma, K. Direct use of Direct Thermochemical Liquefaction liquids as fuels. IEA Bioenergy: Task 34 (2025)
IEA Bioenergy Task 36 : Integrating energy recovery into solid waste management systems
- Waste incineration for the future - scenario analysis and action plants - This report presents narratives of two different configurations of a future circular economy in Sweden, and the journey that led there.
- Integrating energy recovery into solid waste management systems
- Small scale energy from waste (2015)
IEA Bioenergy Task 37 : Energy from Biogas
- Country Report Summaries 2019
- Icknield farm biogas - an integrated farm enterprise, August 2018
- The role of anaerobic digestion and biogas in the circular economy
- Green Gas - facilitating a future green gas grid through the production of renewable gas (2018)
- Intergrated Biogas Systems - Local applications of anaerobic digestion towards integrated sustainable solutions
- View events and biogas publications
- Energy from Biogas
Access list of Task 37 technical reports here
IEA Bioenergy Task 38 : Climate change effects of biomass and bioenergy systems
IEA Bioenergy Task 39 : Biofuels to Decarbonise Transport
Contact: Paul Bennett, Bioeconomy Science Institute
This task is working to increase use of and to commercialise sustainable transportation biofuels. While there are numerous renewable energy options for heat and electricity generation, biofuels are currently the only means of displacing liquid fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuels. More recently there has been increasing focus on the hard-to abate liquid biofuels, such as long-haul shipping and aviation. There has also been more focus on sustainability of these fuel supply chains.
This is currently the largest task with 19 individual countries and the European Union participating.
- https://task39.ieabioenergy.com/
- Newsletter Issue #51
- Newsletter Issue #49
- Read the From 1st to 2nd generation biofuel technologies report
- New Zealand activities in Task 39
IEA Bioenergy Task 40 : Sustainable biomass markets and international bioenergy trade to support the biobased economy
- Global wood pellet industry and trade study 2017, (June 2017)
- Low cost, long distance biomass supply chains (August 2013)
- World bio-trade equity study (April 2010)
IEA Bioenergy Task 42 : Biorefining in a circular economy
IEA Bioenergy Task 43 : Sustainable biomass supply for resilient net-Zero systems
Contact: Peter Hall, Bioeconomy Science Institute
The work programme of this Task Group is here.
- Stump harvesting: Impact on climate and environment, (April 2017)