Renewables are currently expected to account for 25% of U.S. electricity generation in 2025, expanding to 26% in 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released July 8. Renewables accounted for 23% of U.S. electricity generation last year.
Biomass is expected to account for 1.96% of U.S. renewable electricity generation this year, falling to 1.77% in 2026. Biomass accounted for 2.16% of U.S. renewable electricity generation last year.
Biomass was used to generate 20.5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in 2024. That level of production is expected to be maintained in 2025 but fall to 20.3 billion kWh in 2026.
The electric power sector had 2.7 gigawatts (GW) of waste biomass capacity and 2.2 GW of wood biomass capacity in place as of the end of 2024. Those levels of capacity are expected to be unchanged in both 2025 and 2026.
The industrial sector had 5.3 GW of wood biomass capacity and 1.3 GW of waste biomass capacity in place last year. Those levels of capacity are also expected to be maintained this year and next year.
The electric power sector consumed 0.156 quadrillion Btu (quad) of waste biomass last year. Consumption is expected to fall to 0.154 quad this year and remain at that level in 2026. The sector also consumed 0.162 quad of wood biomass in 2024, with consumption expected to expand to 0.165 quad in 2025 and fall to 0.161 quad in 2026.
The industrial sector is expected to consume 0.164 quad of waste biomass in both 2025 and 2026, up from 0.153 quad in 2024. The sector also consumed 1.219 quad of wood biomass last year, with consumption expected to reach 1.286 quad this year and 1.352 quad next year.
The commercial sector is expected to consumed 0.068 quad of waste biomass in both 2025 and 2026, down from 0.069 quad in 2024. Wood biomass consumption was at 0.72 quad last year and is expected to remain unchanged this year and next year.
The residential sector consumed 0.358 quad of wood biomass in 2024. Consumption is expected to increase to 0.359 quad in 2025 and remain at that level next year.
Across all sectors, waste biomass consumption was at 0.379 quad this year and is expected to reach 0.376 quad this year and 0.377 quad next year. Wood biomass consumption was at 1.811 quad in 2024 and is expected to increase to 1.882 quad in 2025 and 1.945 quad in 2026.
