Bioenergy towards climate-neutral futures – Side event at the Central European Biomass Conference (CEBC)
At the 2025 Central European Biomass Conference (CEBC) in Graz, IEA Bioenergy Task 45 hosted a side event titled “Bioenergy towards climate-neutral futures”, bringing together experts to discuss the role of bioenergy in pathways to net-zero.
The workshop built on earlier Task 45 work exploring how bioenergy can support ambitious climate targets while also contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. Participants shared insights from recent and ongoing studies, addressing key questions such as how much sustainable bioenergy can be supplied, what impacts different biomass pathways may have, and how governance can guide development in positive directions.
The programme covered a wide range of topics, including land-based mitigation and carbon impacts, the prioritisation of biomass across sectors, interactions with other energy and carbon removal options, and the role of robust governance and carbon accounting. Through presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, participants highlighted the importance of transparent assumptions, context-specific strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The presentations from the side event are available here:
- Van der Hilst, Berndes et al. Welcome by IEA Bioenergy and host institutions. Overview of workshop objectives and links to the 2019 initiative
- Favero. A Multi-Model Framework for Estimating the Net Greenhouse Gas Effects of Forest Biomass Utilization
- Kraxner. Strategies under Climate Risk: Implications for Wood Supply, Bioenergy, and Long-Term Carbon Permanence
- Horan. Future GHG mitigation (and land sparing) from cascading use of construction timber for BECCS
- Hernandes. Land use transitions on degraded pasture lands in Brazil: balancing biomass-based mitigation and biodiversity protection
- Tsimpoukis. Exploring Bioenergy’s Role in Net-Zero Futures Using the IPCC AR6 Scenario Database
- Dißauer. BIOSTRAT – Strategies for the optimal bioenergy use in Austria with focus on domestic biomass availability
- Milinger. Electrobiofuels can reduce cost and investment risk of achieving emissions targets.
- Bentsen. Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) or Utilization (BECCU) – Where to go?
- Gomez. Carbon accounting: overview and recommendations
- Foster. Robust decision-making is the key to sustainable biomass futures
- Lauri. Forest based-bioeconomy and EU net-zero goal for 2050
- Sohngen / Cowie: Update and “impact assessment” of GHGP-LSRG, ISO 13391-1:2025, etc.
