Renewables are currently expected to account for 24% of U.S. electricity production in 2025, increasing to 26% in 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released Nov. 12. Renewables accounted for 23% of U.S. electricity production in 2024.
Biomass is expected to account for 1.98% of U.S. renewable electricity production this year, falling to 1.79% in 2026. Biomass accounted for 2.12% of U.S. renewable electricity production last year.
Biomass is expected to be used to generate 20.4 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in 2025, falling to 20.1 billion kWh next year. Biomass was used to generate 20.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2024.
The electric power sector had an estimated 2.7 gigawatts (GW) of waste biomass capacity and 2.2 GW of wood biomass capacity in place at the end of 2024. Those levels of capacity are expected to be maintained through 2025 and 2026.
The industrial and commercial sectors had 5.2 GW of wood biomass capacity in place at the end of last year. Capacity is expected to fall to 5.1 GW by the end of 2025 and remain at that level in 2026. The waste and industrial sectors also had 1.3 GW of waste biomass capacity at the end of 2024, with that level of capacity expected to remain unchanged this year and next year.
Th electric power sector is expected to consume 1.52 quadrillion Btu (quad) of waste biomass this year, increasing to 0.153 quad next year. Waste biomass consumption was at 0.158 quad in 2024. The sector also consumed 0.162 quad of wood biomass in 2024, with consumption expected to fall to 0.161 quad in 2025 and 0.156 quad in 2026.
The industrial sector is expected to consume 0.152 quad of waste biomass this year, falling to 0.15 quad next year. Consumption was at 0.153 quad last year. Wood biomass consumption was at 1.326 quad in 2024 and is expected to expand to 1.346 quad in 2025 and 1.457 quad in 2026.
The commercial sector is expected to consume 0.066 quad of waste biomass in both 2025 and 2026, down from 0.069 quad last year. Wood biomass consumption was at 0.072 quad in 2024 and is expected to remain at that level this year and next year.
The residential sector is expected to consume 0.362 quad of wood biomass in both 2025 and 2026, up from 0.358 quad in 2024.
Across all sectors, waste biomass consumption was at 0.381 quad last year and is expected to fall to 0.372 quad this year and 0.369 quad next year. Wood biomass consumption was at 1.917 quad in 2024 and is expected to increase to 1.942 quad in 2025 and 2.047 quad in 2026.
