The biomass solid fuel market involves fuel products that are derived from organic matter or biomass including wood pellets, wood chips, forest residues, agricultural residues, and byproducts such as bagasse. These solid fuels are carbon-neutral, renewable energy sources that burn more cleanly and efficiently than other biomass and fossil fuels. They provide an ideal replacement for coal and other solid fuels used in industrial applications such as manufacturing, processing, and power generation. The global demand for these environment-friendly fuels is driven by stringent renewable energy targets and regulations encouraging a transition away from fossil fuels.

The Global biomass solid fuel market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3.14 BN in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.5% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the Biomass Solid Fuel Market Size are Sanofi, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Cipla, Gilead Sciences. Key players are investing heavily in R&D to develop advanced technologies for processing biomass and improving the efficiency of solid biofuels.


Growing environmental concerns and policy support for renewable energy in various countries have led to a substantial increase in the demand for biomass solid fuels in recent years. Industrial, commercial, and district heating applications accounted for over 50% of the total consumption in 2020.
Various technological advancements such as torrefaction and flash pyrolysis have enhanced the energy density and efficiency of solid biofuels, making them more viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Advanced torrefaction techniques enable biomass to burn similar to coal with reduced emissions.

Market Trends
A major trend in the biomass solid fuel market is the shift towards integrating advanced thermal technologies with existing biomass power plants. This enables more efficient co-firing of solid biofuels with other fuels. The use of gasification and pyrolysis methods is growing for distributed thermal applications and combined heat and power generation.
Customers are also demanding standardized, high-quality fuels with consistent properties. This has encouraged participants to focus on fuel processing techniques and quality control systems to produce specification-grade wood pellets and fuel chips.

Market Opportunities
Increasing R&D investments and projects on second-generation biofuels created from agricultural and wood waste offer significant opportunities. Additionally, co-firing biomass with other fossil fuels provides a cost-effective method to increase the use of renewable fuels in existing thermal infrastructure. Many regions have set targets to meet a certain percentage of their energy demands through biomass and waste-to-energy routes by 2030, presenting opportunities for new players.

Impact of COVID-19 on Biomass Solid Fuel Market Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the growth of the biomass solid fuel market. During the lockdown periods imposed across various countries, the demand and supply chain of biomass solid fuels were disrupted. Many biomass power plants and industries faced fuel shortages which impacted production. The supply of raw materials for production of biomass solid fuels like wood, agro residues, etc. were also affected due to restrictions on transportation. However, with relaxing lockdowns and resumption of industrial activities, the demand has started recovering from 2021 onwards. The market is expected to grow at a faster pace in the coming years to make up for the losses during 2020-2021. The operators in the market need to focus on improving fuel logistics, strengthening supply chain networks and diversifying raw material sourcing to build resilience against future disruptions.

Geographical Regions with Highest Value Concentration in Biomass Solid Fuel Market
The European region accounts for the largest share of the global biomass solid fuel market in terms of value. Countries like Germany, Italy, UK, France have strong policies supporting use of renewable and green sources of energy. Biomass solid fuels constitute an important portion of the energy mix in these countries. The Asia Pacific region is also emerging as a major market driven by growth in China, India, Japan and South Korea. These countries are investing heavily in biomass based power projects to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and meet renewable energy targets. North America, led by the US also has a sizeable market share due to government incentives for biomass energy production.

Fastest Growing Region in the Biomass Solid Fuel Market
The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth in the biomass solid fuel market during the forecast period. Rapid industrialization and economic growth in developing countries like India and China is leading to a rise in energy demand which is being increasingly met through alternative energy sources. These countries offer a very conducive policy environment for biomass energy sector and have ambitious renewable capacity addition plans. Trash-to-energy projects converting agricultural and urban waste to energy are gaining traction. Increased focus on replacing coal with biomass in industries will further propel the APAC biomass solid fuel market growth in the coming years.

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