It is important to evaluate the utilization pathways of biomasses as there are different multiple choices for various types of biomasses. A method using the functional exergy efficiency as a unified protocol is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of energy utilization in three utilization pathways of biomasses: pyrolysis, oxygen gasification and anaerobic digestion. The results show that straws are more suitable than manures used in the pyrolysis process. Functional exergy efficiencies of the oxygen gasification process of six biomasses are all higher than those of the pyrolysis process. The functional exergy efficiencies of the manures have increased, becoming close to those of straws. For the anaerobic digestion process, the functional exergy efficiencies of straws are generally lower than that of manures. Manures with low lignin content (chicken manure in this study) are more suitable as the feedstock of anaerobic digestion process. The functional exergy efficiencies of anaerobic digestion are lower than those of the pyrolysis and gasification processes while the temperature exceeds 850 degrees C. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.