Woody biomass: from energy to industrial value

The topic of bioenergy is once again at the center of the energy transition debate, not only for the residential sector but also for the industrial one. Woody biomass , if managed sustainably and integrated with advanced technologies, can represent a key resource for reducing gas consumption, cutting emissions, and strengthening local supply chains. This perspective combines economic competitiveness, the circular economy, and energy security, and opens up new opportunities for local communities and businesses.

District heating and cogeneration: growing applications

In recent years, biomass plants for district heating have gained popularity, especially in mountainous areas, where the availability of local wood makes the supply chain sustainable. These systems can serve entire neighborhoods, schools, or hospitals, providing reliable heat at a lower cost than gas. On the industrial front, biomass cogeneration is emerging as a practical solution to the energy needs of energy-intensive sectors: agri-food, paper, and manufacturing find in these plants a stable and programmable solution, capable of combining thermal and electrical production with reduced climate-altering emissions.

Competitiveness and environmental sustainability

Modern technologies using wood chips and other wood residues have made significant environmental progress and now achieve near-zero emissions. The economic comparison is also favorable: in 2024, energy produced from A1 wood chips had an average cost of €34.9/MWh, compared to €96.3/MWh for natural gas, representing a savings of over 60%. In addition to the cost advantage, the use of agro-industrial byproducts and processing waste allows waste to be transformed into resources, fueling virtuous circular economy processes and creating new market opportunities for local supply chains.

Opportunities for territories and businesses

According to AIEL, woody biomass already represents a mature and available technology to accelerate the decarbonization of the industrial sector. Reducing dependence on imported methane, combined with strengthening local forestry and energy supply chains, makes these solutions a strategic investment for national energy security. Furthermore, biomass plants can become a driving force for the development of inland areas, generating stable employment and fostering a new culture of sustainability applied to the manufacturing sector.