Bioenergy remains the largest source of renewable energy worldwide

In 2014, global biomass supply has increased to 59.2 exajoule (EJ), an increase of 2.6% compared to the previous year. Together, this represented 10.3% of the world's energy supply. Biomass supply represents three quarters of the total renewable energy supply.

In the same year, renewable energy consumption increased to 66.9 EJ, representing 18.6% of the global energy mix. This shows a modest 0.2% increase from the previous year. Bioenergy, as the largest source of renewable energy, has a total consumption of 50.5 EJ, 14% of the global energy mix.

In the electricity sector, bioenergy is the third source of renewable energy with a generation of 493 TWh. Renewable electricity overall represented 23% of the overall electricity sector. Solar and wind are the fastest growing technologies with growth rates of 45.1% and 25.1%, respectively.

The share of renewable energies in derived heat (heat produced in power plants) and direct heat (heat consumed directly) is 7.1% and 27.7% overall. The renewable heat sector is dominated by biomass as the main energy source.

In transportation, progress is insufficient. Only 2.8% of the global transportation sector is powered by liquid biofuels. Biofuel production is growing at a faster rate than the rate of transportation electrification.

The forestry sector continues to be a key part of the biomass supply accounting for 87% of the total biomass supply providing firewood, wood industry waste, reclaimed wood, charcoal, etc. The agricultural sector contributes 10% through the use of animal by-products, agricultural by-products and energy crops. One of the ways to increase the supply of these sectors is to use waste. A low theoretical estimate shows a potential of at least 20.4 EJ. Finally, waste-to-energy conversion is increasing by 4% annually and Europe is leading the way, with 55% waste-to-energy conversion.

Official figures show that the production of liquid biofuels has reached 126 billion liters worldwide, with 95.1 billion liters produced mainly in America, the United States and Brazil. The simultaneous production of 75.3 million tons of protein is an added benefit of the biofuel industry. Pellet production is increasing rapidly, with a current production volume of 28 million tons (1.6 million tons increase in one year). 59% of production is in Europe. South Korea and Japan are the largest importers of pellets after the EU. Biogas production reached 58.7 billion Nm3, with an average growth rate of 11.2%. Almost half of biogas production occurs in Europe. Charcoal production maintained its production volumes of 52 million tons.

Finally, the bioenergy sector has employed 2.8 million people, not counting jobs in the traditional biomass sector.