Evaluation of biomass utilization pathways – a methodological framework

Biomass is a limited resource facing increasing cross-sectoral demand, creating the need to identify utilization pathways that deliver both financial returns and societal benefits. Existing assessments often emphasize economic performance and global warming potential while often overlooking broader environmental externalities and inconsistently accounting for avoided and removed CO₂-equivalent (CO₂eq) emissions. These gaps limit their ability to guide strategic biomass allocation and policy design. This study presents a novel framework that integrates techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and monetization of environmental externalities to derive two central metrics: net private benefit (NPB) and net social benefit (NSB). Expressing results per unit of biomass input allows consistent comparison across heterogeneous pathways, such as heat, biochar, and carbon removal credits. The framework distinguishes among types of emissions and resource use, incorporates multiple environmental impact categories, and links private and societal perspectives to support investment and policy decisions. The framework’s application to miscanthus utilization in Germany compares bioenergy (BE) and biochar carbon removal (BCR). BE yields positive NPB and avoids emissions and resource use but does not achieve permanent CO₂eq emission removal. BCR removes CO₂eq emissions long-term but results in negative NPB. Both pathways, however, show positive NSB, highlighting synergies and conflicts between private incentives and societal value. Overall, this framework enables a holistic assessment of biomass utilization pathways. By integrating economic and environmental dimensions, standardizing emissions and resource use accounting, and harmonizing metrics, it provides a structured basis for prioritizing biomass uses according to their private and social benefits.