Exploring Europe’s Bioenergy Landscape: what the data tells us about heat, energy security and policy
On Thursday 5 February, Bioenergy Europe hosted the webinar “Exploring Europe’s Bioenergy Landscape” to mark the publication of the Landscape Statistical Report 2025. Bioenergy Europe’s Market Intelligence Director Jérémie Geelen guided stakeholders through the report’s main findings and what they mean for bioenergy in the EU energy transition, with a focus on heat decarbonisation, energy security, and policy delivery. The webinar Exploring Europe’s Bioenergy Landscape analysed what the data tell us.
The webinar brought together Bioenergy Europe experts and the report’s author to unpack key trends in the EU energy mix, highlight the role of biomass and bioenergy, and answer questions from both members and external participants.
Heat remains Europe’s biggest energy use
A central takeaway was that public debate and policy often prioritise electricity, while around 45% of final energy demand is still used for heating. This underlines why decarbonising heat in buildings and industry is essential to reduce fossil fuel use and deliver emissions cuts at scale.
Bioenergy’s role in the EU energy mix
Bioenergy Europe’s Market Intelligence Director emphasised that bioenergy remains the EU’s largest renewable energy source, accounting for 54% of the renewable energy mix. In the overall system, bioenergy covers around 11% of total energy demand, while representing around 1% of EU energy imports. The discussion linked this to strategic autonomy, looking at indigenous energy production in the EU: scaling domestic renewable resources supports energy security and competitiveness.
The webinar also broke down bioenergy use by sector. In electricity, bioenergy was presented as a relevant contributor especially in Combined Heat and Power installations (CHP), but heat remains the main outlet. In heating and cooling, biomass was presented at around 21% of the total energy mix. When looking specifically at the residential heat supply, biomass reaches around 22%.
Who uses biomass and why it matters for policy
Another key point was where biomass is used today and what this means for efficiency and system planning. Bioenergy Europe experts highlighted a strong residential share, alongside industrial use and derived heat. District heating remains a practical decarbonisation pathway, with biomass already playing a significant role in renewable heat supply for networks reaching 32% of the total mix, the largest input source in the EU’s district heating sector.
NECPs and progress towards 2030 targets
The webinar reviewed how Member States compare against their National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) objectives. The overall message was clear: progress is visible, but implementation speed and delivery gaps will determine whether the EU meets its 2030 energy and climate targets.
Beyond energy: GHG savings, jobs and European value chains
The session also placed bioenergy in a wider perspective, highlighting its contribution to GHG savings and employment along the supply chain. Speakers noted that job profiles may evolve over time, with a shift from feedstock-related activities towards higher-value segments. The webinar also highlighted the role of European technologies and supply chains, supporting energy independence and industrial competitiveness.
Six headline messages from the Landscape Statistical Report 2025
The webinar concluded with six takeaways from the report:
- Europe’s biggest energy demand is heating
- Bioenergy is the largest renewable source in the EU (54% of renewables)
- Bioenergy relies largely on local supply chains, supporting energy independence and competitiveness
- The EU must accelerate renewables deployment to stay on track
- Fossil appliances still dominate heating stock, slowing decarbonisation
- Replacing outdated systems is key for efficiency and air quality improvements
Want more insights? This webinar is only a starting point
The webinar Exploring Europe’s Bioenergy Landscape offered an opportunity to understand what the data tell us of the bioenergy data and the policy implications behind the Landscape Statistical Report 2025. Bioenergy Europe members benefit from deeper access to market intelligence, policy tracking, and expert exchanges that help turn analysis into decisions. If you want more discussions like this, and a fuller view behind the charts, joining the association is the most direct way in.
