Biomass is used as an energy source to generate electricity, heat, biogas and biofuel, and through this diversity it replaces various fossil energy sources. It is not dependent on the weather or the time of day and is considered CO2-neutral. In Germany and worldwide, it is the number 1 most used regenerative energy source.
Diversity and independence of energy production through biomass
Biomass is a collective term for organic matter of plant (e.g. maize, rape or wood) or animal (e.g. liquid manure or dry chicken manure) origin. Since bioenergy is produced from renewable materials, biomass is considered a renewable energy source. Today, biomass is the most widely used renewable energy source both in Germany and worldwide.
Its use as an energy source varies greatly. Biomass is used to generate electricity and heat as well as to produce fuel. Due to its diversity (solid, liquid and gaseous form), it replaces fossil fuels in many areas. Manure, for example, is turned into biogas through anaerobic fermentation, which can be used like natural gas. Grain or sugar beets are fermented into alcohol, which is used as biofuel. In contrast to wind and sun, energy production from biomass is not dependent on the daily and annual fluctuations of the weather, is available around the clock, is base-load capable, can be easily stored and is available at any time. Biomass is considered CO2-neutral. This is because when plants burn, they only release the amount of CO2 they have absorbed from the atmosphere in the course of their growth.
Significance in Germany and Europe
At around 43.9 terawatt hours, 7.5 % of the electricity generated in Germany in 2021 was derived from biomass.(1) In 2020, just under 23 % of all renewable electricity was generated from biomass.(2) Within the EU, bioenergy represents 12 % of the total energy mix and 60 % of the consumption of energy from renewable sources.(3)
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