Bioenergy is considered an option of significant potential for both industrialized and developing countries and its exploitation can strive toward more sustainable energy systems. In this framework, the main scope of this paper is an analysis of three bioenergy options, namely biomass combustion, biomass gasification, and production of biofuels for the transport sector, in terms of their status, benefits, and possible barriers, as well as their future potential. Special attention is given to the perspectives for deployment in the developing world in the context of emerging opportunities provided by the clean development mechanism for sustainable technology transfer.