Bioenergy with carbon capture and utilization: A review on the potential deployment towards a European circular bioeconomy

European energy landscape is currently undergoing significant changes shifting from fossil to renewable energy sources. Biomass will continue to play a significant role in decarbonisation efforts. As a pioneer in climate change mitigation, the European Union (EU) can also greatly benefit not only from the wide deployment of bioenergy, but also from Bioenergy coupled with Carbon Capture and Utilization (BECCU). BECCU is a key enabling technology for the energy transition addressing simultaneously the renewable feedstock-based circular economy. Biomass utilization in existing and future power and heat applications addresses the decarbonisation of power and heat sector, while the integration of CO2-utilization technologies in these plants enables the valorisation of waste streams via conversion to fuels and chemicals. The current status of bioenergy deployment in Europe is reported, along with a review of the main BECCU technologies and a special focus on valuable recycled bio-CO2-derived transport fuels. BECCU enables the decarbonisation of power, heat and transport sector leading to a net zero or even negative emission energy system by 2050.