Biomass-based electricity generation in the United States is expected to decline marginally through 2027, even as renewable sources are projected to account for a growing share of the country’s overall power generation, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Biomass Magazine reported.
Renewable sources are expected to contribute more than 26% of US electricity generation in 2026, rising to nearly 28% in 2027, compared with 24% in 2025. However, biomass is projected to account for a smaller share of renewable power generation, falling to 1.78% in 2026 and 1.62% in 2027, from 1.97% in 2025.
Biomass-based electricity generation is forecast at 20.3 billion kWh in 2026 and 20.0 billion kWh in 2027, compared with 20.5 billion kWh in 2025.
Electric power sector biomass capacity stood at 2.7 GW for waste biomass and 2.1 GW for wood biomass at the end of 2025. EIA expects these capacity levels to remain unchanged through 2026 and 2027.
In the industrial and commercial sectors, wood biomass capacity was 5 GW and waste biomass capacity was 1.3 GW at the end of 2025. These levels are also projected to remain unchanged through 2027.
Waste biomass consumption in the electric power sector is projected at 0.15 quadrillion British thermal units (quad) in 2026 and 0.151 quad in 2027, compared with 0.151 quad in 2025. Wood biomass consumption in the sector is expected to decline from 0.167 quad in 2025 to 0.163 quad in 2026 and 0.157 quad in 2027.
Industrial waste biomass consumption is forecast at 0.156 quad in 2026 and 0.154 quad in 2027, compared with 0.154 quad in 2025. Industrial wood biomass use is projected to increase from 1.3 quad in 2025 to 1.324 quad in 2026 and 1.421 quad in 2027.
Commercial-sector waste biomass consumption is expected to remain broadly stable at 0.068 quad in 2026 and 0.067 quad in 2027, compared with 0.067 quad in 2025. Commercial wood biomass consumption is projected at 0.073 quad in 2026 and 0.072 quad in 2027, against 0.072 quad in 2025.
Residential wood biomass consumption is expected to decline from 0.372 quad in 2025 to 0.36 quad in both 2026 and 2027.
Across all sectors, waste biomass consumption is projected at 0.374 quad in 2026 and 0.373 quad in 2027, compared with 0.372 quad in 2025. Wood biomass consumption is expected to rise from 1.912 quad in 2025 to 1.92 quad in 2026 and 2.01 quad in 2027.
