Workshop Announcement: Addressing investment barriers by improving documentation of sustainable biomass resources

April 30, 2025

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Workshop organized by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and IEA Bioenergy Task 43 (Sustainable Biomass). The workshop will share the recently launched global biomass data set and web portal bioenergykdf.ornl.gov. Participants will have opportunities to access the data, have questions answered, and provide input on strategies to improve and make best use of this resource.

Thursday 08 May 2025, 13:30-18:00 PST

Marine Room, The Westin Bayshore Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025

Time: 13:30 – 18:00 (PDT)

Invitees: Open to public; registration will be available on site until room occupancy limit is met

Location: Marine Room, The Westin Bayshore Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1

On-line Participation Link will be provided after registration is confirmed

Background: Uncertainty about the availability of sufficient biomass has deterred investments needed to mobilize resilient feedstock sources. Evolving regulations around the globe create barriers to biofuels and other biobased products based on concerns about sourcing and sustainability. In 2024, the Biofuture Platform Initiative tasked Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to address the need for an international benchmark quantifying available biomass supplies. A system for processing and sharing information was established and a Global Biomass Resource Assessment report was issued for 62 nations. The report highlighted challenges related to inconsistencies and limitations in data quality, time frames, terminology, units, and other variables.

In 2025, Biofuture Platform, ORNL, IEA Bioenergy Task 43, and others are collaborating to continue to improve the data in terms of quality and extent of coverage. Another goal is to identify a potential permanent institutional home that can maintain future operations of the global biomass resource data clearing house. In February 2025, Task 43 approved Work Package 1 to further develop this work.

Objectives: IEA Bioenergy Task 43, Biofuture Platform, and ORNL are interested in receiving input from stakeholders regarding the global dataset and how to best improve it over the coming year, so that it can serve the needs of users and address the question, “Is there enough biomass available that complies with regulatory requirements?” All interested parties, regardless of workshop participation, are invited to contact the Global Biomass Resource Assessment with any comments, questions, or suggestions for improvements at: biomass.updates(at)ornl.gov.

Stakeholders are welcome to share feedback and suggestions regarding the agenda, topics and issues before, during, and after the workshops.

Participants are encouraged to review the next steps listed at the end of this agenda in advance of the workshop and consider the three questions that are to be discussed in the breakout tables and come prepared to make the time as productive as possible.

Contacts for more information:

IEA Bioenergy Task 43 and the meeting plans for Vancouver 07-09 May 2025: Kelly Stewart kstewart(at)usc.edu.au or Mark Brown mbrown2(at)usc.edu.au
Global Biomass Resource Assessment: updates(at)ornl.gov for comments on the data, framework, sharing portal, and workshop agenda.
CEM Biofuture Platform Initiative: facilitator(at)biofutureplatform.org
Other IEA Bioenergy Tasks and projects: facilitator(at)ieabioenergy.com

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Download the agenda

Addressing investment barriers by improving Documentation of Sustainable biomass resources

May 8, 2025

Specific aims of this workshop are to:

Provide a briefing on the status of the global dataset and data sharing platform; and discuss how participants and other interested parties can access and utilize the data.
Review proposed next steps (below) and prioritize them based on criteria including the needs of users, available resources, complementary projects, and workshop participant perspectives.
Discuss how IEA Bioenergy Task 43 member nations, workshop participants, and others, can contribute to complete the activities planned in the Task’s work package on sustainable global biomass availability.
Identify additional potential partners (e.g., representatives from regional or national governments, private sector, or other organizations) who may be able to contribute to achieving mutual goals related to improving access to information about available biomass resources.

13:30 Registration and refreshments

14:00 Welcome and Introductions (Mark Brown, University of the Sunshine Coast)

14:10 Review of workshop agenda and goals (Keith Kline, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

14:20 Global Biomass Resource Assessment – status, access, purpose, and the next steps currently planned for improvements (listed below) (Ryan Jacobson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Participants will use their personal devices to explore the dataset

14:40 Q&A and discussion: data access, qualities, queries and other topics

Identify specific updates and improvements that are needed
Input on terminology, units, and conversion issues
Brainstorm best approaches to achieve improvements
Identify points of contact and sources of information to enable updates

15:30 Participant input on goals and priorities (Keith Kline, facilitator)

Is the original goal still valid? I.e., can we effectively address the question, “Is there enough biomass available that complies with regulatory requirements?” And is the information adequate to inform investment decisions?
Who are the most likely users of these data? What are their needs?
Which improvements are high priorities to enable achievement of objectives and meet user needs?

16:10 Voting on priorities for next steps – based on participant input and the list of actions below

16:15 Health break

16:30 Review vote results and organize small breakout groups to discuss next steps for priority actions.

16:40 Breakout Tables. Each breakout group will select a scribe to summarize recommendations including:

Are we on the right track? If not, what approach would be most effective to address the question: “Is there enough biomass available that complies with regulatory requirements and is the information adequate to inform investment decisions?”
For at least one priority action, recommend a strategy for effective implementation that is responsive to user needs.
1. A strategy typically specifies what, who, when, and how to complete the action.
2. Consider how Task 43 member nations, workshop participants can contribute to achieving this and other priority actions.
3. Are there additional parties (organizations and points of contact) who could help achieve these actions?

17:10 Report back from each table and group discussion on strategies per bullet points above

17:40 Discussion of next steps and opportunities to continue the work

17:50 Closing remarks and announcements (Mark Brown) READ MORE