IEA BIOENERGY TASK 42: Biomass is the future. Biorefineries as game-changers.

Biorefineries are sustainable production technologies used for the integrated manufacturing of a wide variety of products, such as food and animal feed, materials, fuels, chemicals, and energy from renewable resources.

Biorefinery technologies play a vital role in the industrial transformation by helping to implement a circular economy and address climate change.

The overarching goal of IEA Bioenergy Task 42—Biorefining in the Circular Economy—is to advance the commercialization and market introduction of biorefinery technologies. New processes for utilizing renewable resources to produce goods and energy are identified at the international task level, described in terms of their implementation and current state of development, and examined and evaluated in detail through selected case studies.

National contributions to the IEA Bioenergy Task 42 work program:

• International networking: Exchange of information on relevant issues in the field of biorefining, particularly with regard to (i) R&D, technology development, and new processes; (ii) the implementation of biorefining processes; and (iii) case studies and best practices.
• Assessment of Biorefineries: (i) Collection and analysis of process data, (ii) technical, economic, and environmental assessment of biorefineries (TEE assessment) to quantify the added value of biorefinery processes, (iii) comparison of biorefineries with processes based on fossil raw materials.
• Technology Focus: Biorefinery & Biogas: Opportunities and Challenges in Expanding Biogas Plants into Regional Multi-Product Biorefineries That Also Enable the Material Utilization of Raw Materials.
• Networking of national stakeholders: Through events and workshops on selected topics, the 2025–2027 triennium will facilitate networking among stakeholders from various sectors. This will foster the exchange of information at the national level and strengthen the national network of stakeholders’ connection to the international task force.

Participating countries: