Macroeconomic Evaluation of Enhanced Biomass Utilisation in Austria

Recently, several scientific investigations have been carried out in Austria on the potential of biomass as a renewable resource for the energy sector. Most of these studies look at this domestic biomass potential from a natural-science and technological perspective. In contrast to these, the WIFO study focuses on analysing the macroeconomic effects produced by the additional demand for feedstocks as energy resource for use in the mobility sector and in electricity and heat generation. It quantifies the direct and indirect macroeconomic effects of measures to boost biomass yield in Austria on the one hand and bioenergy use on the other up to the year 2020, based on a "biomass action plan scenario" which stipulates targets for blending biofuels and for the share of renewables in overall energy consumption.