Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) are mainly grown for producing berries but a valuable and expensive essential oil can be extracted from the buds. Blackcurrants may produce about 6000 kg ha-1 woody dry matter per year if they are cultivated at high density. As the buds are harvested from the canes during the dormancy period, the branches are considered a waste product. These branches might be utilized as a fuel. The goal of this study was to analyze and review the main aspects of a combined production of fuel biomass and essential oils. Factors such as propagation, plant density, pests and infection, soil and water, cane and bud harvesting, oil production, combustion and environmental impact are examined as well as an energy balance and an economic analysis made. At present, blackcurrant buds are harvested mainly by hand and at a low scale, hence their high price. Considerable economic benefits per ha might be achieved if bud harvesting was mechanized at low costs. However, the large-scale cultivation of blackcurrants for biomass and essential oils is limited by the facts that no mobile bud harvester has yet been designed and a very uncertain price and demand evolution for the essential oils may occur if their production increases considerably.