# Biomass combustion and CHP: Overview

From village cooking fires to power stations burning pellets

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/overview/

What this tile covers Burning wood, residues and pellets for heat and power. Share of use 7.9% share of world energy supply (2023)

Share of world total energy supply captured or extracted by each method, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method); electricity from wind, solar, hydro and geothermal is counted at output, nuclear at reactor heat. Heat and biomass flows outside EI's total are set against the same 592.2 EJ. Solid biomass is about 83% of 56 EJ bioenergy supply = 46.5 EJ (WBA), against 592.2 EJ (calculated). Includes traditional cooking and heating, which EI's total omits, so the share is somewhat high; also covers charcoal feedstock. Source: [Global Bioenergy Statistics Report 2025: Summary](https://www.worldbioenergy.org/uploads/251118%20GBSR%20Summary.pdf), World Bioenergy Association.

#### Key facts

| **Output** | Heat and electricity |
|---|---|
| **Chain** | Radiant → chemical (photosynthesis) → heat → steam → mechanical → electrical |

#### Included from the reference tables

- Cookstoves and firewood
- Boilers and pellet stoves
- Biomass power plants and co-firing with coal
- Biomass CHP
- Charcoal making

#### Also in Bioenergy
[CBG Biogas and biomethane](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biomethane/)[EtOH Bioethanol](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/bioethanol/)[FAME Biodiesel (FAME)](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/)[HVO Renewable diesel and SAF](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/)[TCB Thermochemical biomass conversion](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_thermochem/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: efficiency, techniques, resources and labour, impact on the biosphere.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/correlation/index.md)
- [Efficiency](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/efficiency/index.md)
- [Techniques](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/techniques/index.md)
- [Resources and labour](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/resources/index.md)
- [Impact on the biosphere](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/biosphere/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_bio_combustion/links/index.md)