Especially in the area of heating, the use of solid biomass to generate energy represents the largest share of renewable energies (in Germany up to 70 %). The further increase in the use of biomass is an important component to achieving the goals set out in the German government’s climate change policy. The key to this is a reliable political framework, including provisions such as long-term funding systems. The global and regional potentials of solid biomass are distributed unequally. However, by improving transport logistics and tapping additional biomass resources such as woodcuttings from landscaping and so-called ‘short rotational plantations’ (KUP, Kurzumtriebsplantagen) solid biomass can also play an important role in the future energy supply.

Due to the continuous availability of solid biomass electricity generation, biomass can compensate for the fluctuation in wind and solar power production. The further utilisation of waste heat helps achieve high overall levels of efficiency. With the tightening of European Emissions Trading in 2013, the co-firing of solid biomass in coal-fired power plants will also gain in importance. Considering the increasing prices for fossil energy sources, wood is still a very good alternative source for domestic use. Pellet firing lends itself most easily, as it is convenient to use and, in comparison with other wooden energy sources, is characterised by relatively low-emission combustion.

The generation of biofuels from solid biomass is still in the early stages of development. As biomass exhibits excellent potential for preventing greenhouse gas, it can make an important contribution to meeting sustainability criteria for biofuels. With the planned expansion of sustainability criteria to cover all uses of biomass energy, efficient and resource-efficient usage is also becoming relevant for solid biomass. German technology providers are taking a leading role in developing the necessary modern technologies and intelligent concepts to meet these future challenges.