Publication | Peer reviewed papers | Potentiale, Bioenergiesysteme, Logistik
Global warming potential of bioenergy conversion pathways in Austria: A comparative life cycle assessment
Published 30 June 2026
Citation: Matschegg D, Kumpan K, Strasser C, Dißauer C. Global warming potential of bioenergy conversion pathways in Austria: A comparative life cycle assessment. Biomass and Bioenergy. 30. Juni 2026, 109750
Abstract
Bioenergy is key to defossilize the energy system, since it replaces fossil fuels and provides heat, power and fuels. The Global Warming Potential of bioenergy is dependent on conversion technologies and feedstocks used, but also on assumptions regarding location, transport and co-product handling. There is a lack of harmonized comparative life cycle assessments for various bioenergy conversion pathways using different feedstocks. Thus, this study aims for quantifying the Global Warming Potential of selected bioenergy conversion pathways with harmonized assumptions and assess the greenhouse gas reduction potential in comparison to the current Austrian energy system. The comparative life cycle assessment covers the well-established thermo-chemical pathway direct combustion including combined heat and power generation, the emerging thermo-chemical pathway gasification, and the bio-chemical pathway anaerobic digestion to produce heat, power and fuels. The Global Warming Potential ranges between 3.4 and 61.7 gCO2-eq/MJ useful energy output, without the consideration of credits. In comparison to the current Austrian energy system, the greenhouse gas reduction potential ranges between −6% and 92%. The results show that the Global Warming Potential is lowest for pathways converting residual feedstocks and utilizing waste heat. The findings of this study shall provide a sound decision basis when defining most beneficial applications for sustainable biomass or a defossilization strategy.