bioenergy

noun

bio·​en·​er·​gy ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ˈe-nər-jē How to pronounce bioenergy (audio)
: energy for industrial or commercial use that is derived from biological sources (such as plant matter or animal waste)
We also are pursuing many energy supply technologies with comparatively low or zero CO2 emissions profiles, such as solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy, and combined heat and power.—Spencer Abraham

Examples of bioenergy in a Sentence

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The programming includes discussions about energy storage, food systems and bioenergy with experts leading the movement towards renewable energy. — Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, Drax has shuttered facilities in Arkansas and British Columbia and scaled back investments in bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026 For example, switching from coal to bioenergy cuts electricity’s carbon footprint by 70%—but increases its water footprint more than 30-fold and its land footprint 100-fold. — Simmone Shah, Time, 3 June 2026 At last year’s COP30 climate summit, major producers sought to reignite the sector, announcing the Belém 4x Pledge to increase bioenergy and biofuel use fourfold over the next decade. — Nithin Coca, semafor.com, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bioenergy

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bioenergy was in 1978

Rhymes for bioenergy

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Browse Nearby Words

bioenergetics
bioenergy
bioengineer
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Cite this Entry

“Bioenergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bioenergy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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