Biomasszaüzem

Biomasszaüzem, or biomass plant, is a facility that converts biomass into usable energy, typically electricity and/or heat. It is a form of renewable energy technology that uses carbon-based feedstocks derived from forests, agriculture, or organic waste.

The main technologies include direct combustion in a boiler to produce steam for a turbine and heat for district heating; gasification to convert solid biomass into a combustible gas for turbines or engines; anaerobic digestion to produce biogas for electricity and heat; and pyrolysis to yield bio-oil and syngas. Many installations operate as combined heat and power (CHP) plants, maximizing overall energy use by recovering heat.

Feedstocks commonly used are wood residues and by-products, forestry waste, agricultural residues, purpose-grown energy crops, and municipal solid waste. Pre-treatment and moisture control are important, and feedstock supply planning is critical for reliability. Sustainability considerations focus on avoiding negative impacts on biodiversity, land use, and food security, as well as minimizing transport emissions and ensuring responsible sourcing.

Performance and environmental impact vary by technology and scale. Electrical efficiency for electricity-focused units is typically in the range of 20–30%, while CHP configurations can achieve much higher total energy efficiency. Emissions include particulates and nitrogen oxides from combustion, and ash residues must be managed. When sourced from sustainable cycles, biomass energy can offer low net carbon emissions compared with fossil fuels, though lifecycle impacts depend on feedstock choice, processing, and logistics.

Economically, biomass plants require substantial capital investment and benefit from policy support, incentives, or heat or power markets. They are commonly used for district heating, industrial process heat, or grid electricity, especially in rural or biomass-rich regions.