Biomass - heat - electricity: two-day symposium attracts scientists and practitioners to Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences
The "Energy Utilisation of Renewable Resources" conference looks back on a long tradition - it took place for the 28th time this year. Almost 100 experts from research and industry came together on 22 and 23 May 2025 to discuss the use of wood for the energy transition under the motto "Biomass - Heat - Power" and to learn about and exchange information on the latest developments and innovations. The event was organised by a broad consortium, in which the Chair of Gas and Heat Technology at TU Bergakademie Freiberg was also actively involved.
The event was held under the patronage of the Saxon Minister for the Environment and Agriculture Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch, who expressed the new state government's strategy for the use of wood in particular in his welcoming address. Conscious utilisation, also for the energy transition, is important to him. Wood can - where not otherwise possible and in cascade - make its contribution to the energy transition and climate protection in a second life. In the plenary session, Graf von Botmer presented the expected strategic approaches of the new federal government. Although a forest strategy has not yet been published, the long-term strategy is expected to be continued on an ongoing basis, taking into account elements of climate change and the energy transition. In a panel discussion, representatives of the responsible federal and state ministries answered questions from forestry experts and timber users. Critical questions were discussed regarding the categorisation of wood as a climate-neutral resource, the necessary forest conversion as a result of climate change and the use of wood in municipal heating planning.
New developments in plant and equipment construction for the energetic utilisation of wood and wood waste were presented. Combined heat and power generation is an important trend. Numerous small and medium-sized companies now have new products on the market or are preparing them for the market that aim to generate fuel gas using gasification and/or pyrolysis technologies and utilise it in combined heat and power plants to generate electricity and heat. This will provide base load-capable energy generators. The long period of "teething troubles" of these technologies seems to have been overcome.
The "old hands" among the participants were looking forward to the traditional satirical review of the event at the end. They were not disappointed: Thomas Hering from the Thuringian State Office for Agriculture and Rural Areas picked up on the speakers' statements and summarised the findings from the conference in his usual humorous manner. The two-day event was complemented by a technical excursion with a tour of the nearby wood gasifier CHP plant at the Oberlausitzer Bergland Zittau Clinical Centre.
The 29th symposium, which will focus on the material use of renewable raw materials, will be held in Dresden next year.