Environmental impacts of biomass energy: A life cycle assessment perspective for circular economy

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

Biomass energy plays a pivotal role in advancing the transition toward a circular and low-carbon economy. This review addresses the need to consider a wider range of environmental impacts in the assessment of biomass energy such as carbon sequestration, ozone depletion, aquatic eutrophication, ionizing radiation, human toxicity potential (HTP) and other often-neglected impacts in existing reviews. However, the environmental sustainability of biomass energy remains a subject of ongoing debate with significant variations across different biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become an essential tool for assessing the environmental impacts of biomass energy systems by offering a comprehensive framework for evaluation. Existing review articles have predominantly focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global warming potential (GWP), often overlooking other environmental impacts. This article offers a novel review of LCA studies across a broader range of feedstocks and critically evaluates several key conversion technologies including pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion, hydrothermal processes and direct combustion. In contrast to existing reviews which typically focus on specific feedstocks, technologies or regions, this study provides a global, cross-sectoral perspective, bridging gaps between local practices and global sustainability strategies. This article contributes to advancing a circular and low-carbon economy by enhancing the understanding of the environmental sustainability of biomass energy and its role in driving transformation.

Publication Title

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

ISSN

13640321

DOI

10.1016/j.rser.2025.116363

Volume

226

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