# Biomass: Overview

Sunlight stored in wood, crops and dung

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

What this tile covers Solar energy stored by plants: wood, crop residues, dung and energy crops. Share of use 9.5% share of world energy supply (2023)

Share of world total energy supply, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method). Flows EI omits (traditional biomass via WBA, solar and geothermal heat, food energy) are set against the same 592.2 EJ, so shares sum to slightly more than 100%. Total bioenergy supply 56 EJ (WBA, 2023, includes traditional biomass) against EI's 592.2 EJ for 2024 (calculated). WBA itself gives 9% of a 622 EJ IEA-based total; EI's total leaves out non-commercial biomass, so this share is slightly high. Source: [Global Bioenergy Statistics Report 2025: Summary](https://www.worldbioenergy.org/uploads/251118%20GBSR%20Summary.pdf), World Bioenergy Association.

#### Key facts

| **Origin** | Indirect solar |
|---|---|
| **Renewable** | Yes, if regrown |

#### Included from the reference tables

- Biomass
- Biofuels and biogas
- Forests and crops (biological storage)

#### Linked to the material world
[Tm Timber](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/lumber/)[Su Sugar](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sugar/)[Mz Maize](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/maize/)[PO Palm oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/palm_oil/)

#### Also in Solar-derived flows
[Sun Sunlight](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_sunlight/)[Wd Wind](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_wind/)[H2O Water cycle](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_hydro/)[Wv Ocean waves](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_waves/)[Oc Ocean currents](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_currents/)[OT Ocean thermal gradient](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_ocean_thermal/)[Sal Salinity gradient](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_salinity/)[Amb Ambient heat](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_ambient/)[Mu Muscle power](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_muscle/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: how energy resides, abundance, fluctuation in time, across the earth, impact on nature.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/correlation/index.md)
- [How energy resides](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/resides/index.md)
- [Abundance](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/abundance/index.md)
- [Fluctuation in time](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/time/index.md)
- [Across the Earth](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/geography/index.md)
- [Impact on nature](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/nature/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_biomass/links/index.md)