A comprehensive review of advances in bioenergy including emerging trends and future directions

Abstract

Bioenergy is a promising alternative to fossil fuels-based energy with significant potential to transform global energy systems and promote environmental sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of bioenergy, emphasizing its role in the global transition to sustainable energy. It explores a diverse range of biomass sources including forest and agricultural residues, algae, and industrial by-products, and their conversion into energy via thermochemical, biochemical, and physicochemical pathways. The paper also highlights recent technological advancements and assesses the environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems. Additionally, it examines key challenges hindering bioenergy development, such as feedstock logistics, technological limitations, economic viability, and policy gaps that need resolution to fully realise its potential. By synthesizing literature from 2010 to 2025, the review identifies strategic priorities for research and deployment, aiming to inform efforts that align bioenergy utilization with global decarbonization goals.

Keywords: Biomass feedstock, Bioenergy technologies, Biomass conversion, Biofuels, Renewable energy, Energy policies