Biomass is a renewable energy source that plays an important role in energy production in Austria. It comprises a variety of organic materials, including wood, agricultural waste, biogas and residues from forestry and agriculture. In contrast to fossil fuels, biomass is CO₂-neutral, as it only releases as much carbon dioxide during combustion as was previously bound during plant growth. This makes it an important building block in the Austrian energy transition and the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

In Austria, biomass is primarily used to generate heat and electricity. The use of wood, pellets and wood chips for combined heat and power plants and biomass heating systems is widespread. Many households, especially in rural areas, rely on biomass heating systems, which offer a climate-friendly alternative to oil and gas heating. Biogas plants also play a role by producing biogas from organic waste and energy crops, which can be used to generate electricity or as fuel.

A major advantage of biomass is its regional availability. Wood and forestry waste are particularly plentiful in a densely wooded country like Austria. This not only promotes independence from fossil fuels, but also value creation in local agriculture and forestry. Many local businesses benefit from the biomass market and the utilisation of this resource for energy contributes to the creation of jobs in rural areas.

At European level, biomass is also an important component of energy policy. In the European Union, biomass makes a significant contribution to achieving climate targets, particularly as part of the European Green Deal, which aims to achieve a climate-neutral EU by 2050. Austria is playing a pioneering role here and is focussing on continuously increasing the share of renewable energies, including biomass, in total energy consumption. At the same time, there are discussions at EU level about how sustainable the use of biomass is, as the long-term impact on forests and land use must be carefully assessed.

A key aspect of the use of biomass is efficiency. Modern biomass plants are able to generate both heat and electricity with high efficiency. Combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which supply both electrical energy and useful heat, are particularly noteworthy in this respect. They improve the energy yield of biomass and contribute to the maximum utilisation of available resources.

To summarise, it can be said that biomass plays a central role in the Austrian energy market. It supports the reduction of greenhouse gases, strengthens the regional economy and promotes security of supply. In combination with other renewable energies such as wind power and solar energy, biomass is an indispensable component of a sustainable and climate-friendly energy future - not only in Austria, but also in the entire European energy market.