Energy from biomass: climate protection or conflict of use?

Biomass is seen as a versatile energy source of the future - but how sustainable is its use really? This question is the focus of a lecture at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, at 6.30 pm. The speaker will be Dr Bastian Alt from eta Energieberatung GmbH, who will speak on the topic of "Energetic use of biomass - versatile, regional, but also sustainable?".

Biomass in the form of wood or organic residues can be used to generate energy – a versatile yet contested component of the energy transition (symbolic image: Pixabay).

As a storable energy source, biomass can be an important supplement to weather-dependent renewable sources and play a role in regional supply in particular. At the same time, its use is the subject of controversial discussions: Competition for land, ecological effects and the actual climate footprint are increasingly coming into focus. The presentation will provide an overview of current processes and categorise their potential and limitations.

New developments will also be highlighted, such as approaches for the permanent sequestration of carbon, which could enable negative CO₂ emissions in the future. Using practical examples, the speaker will show the conditions under which biomass can make a meaningful contribution to achieving climate targets.

The event is part of the lecture series "Energy - Environment - Sustainability", which will once again bring together experts from science and practice in the summer semester of 2026. The series is organised by Professor Sabine Bschorer.

The lecture will take place at the Ingolstadt campus (room G215) and will be broadcast online in parallel. Admission is free, registration is not required. There will be an opportunity for discussion afterwards.

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