Smart Bioenergy - Innovations for a sustainable future
The DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH (DBFZ) is a federal institution founded in 2008 that conducts applied research into the energetic and integrated material use of biomass. The institution is represented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity. As of 12/2025, the DBFZ has 272 employees covered by collective labour agreements. The DBFZ is headquartered in Leipzig. The Supervisory Board of the DBFZ consists of representatives from five energy-related ministries (BMLEH, BMUKN, BMV, BMWE, BMFTR, SMWA) / Status: 06/05/2026.
Latest News
‘ETH-Soil’ project in Ethiopia builds resilience and creates economic incentives through sustainable fertiliser production
Biochar-based fertilisers benefit the climate, the environment and human health. The “ETH-Soil” project, coordinated by the DBFZ, is using transformative research to establish a sectoral innovation system for organic fertilisers in Ethiopia.
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Biogas should complement new power stations, rather than replace them
To secure future electricity supplies, the German government plans to fund new natural gas-fired power stations with a total capacity of 9 gigawatts. A policy brief recently published by UFZ and the DBFZ shows that biogas production should be increased, but that avoiding new natural gas power stations entirely would make the energy transition more expensive.
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the ‘SoBio2’ project outlines the optimal use of biomass by 2050
The project “Scenarios for the optimal use of biomass in the bioeconomy by 2050” investigated the cost-effective use of limited biomass resources in the energy, chemical, peat substitution and timber construction sectors, as well as for the generation of negative emissions to achieve climate protection targets in Germany by 2050.
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DBFZ Events
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Statements and Background papers
With our policy blog. we would like to inform you about interesting aspects of the applied sustainability research conducted at DBFZ. We blog about the sustainability of products in the field of bioeconomy, biomass and biofuels.
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Knowledge and Technology Transfer
Despite a rapidly growing rate of photovoltaic and wind turbines within the global total primary energy supply, biomass remains the most important renewable energy source in the world, according to the IEA. However, the potential is limited...
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DBFZ @ IEA Bioenergy
The IEA Bioenergy is an organisation founded in 1978 by the International Energy Agency with the aim of improving international cooperation and the exchange of information on bioenergy research. The DBFZ is currently represented with several scientists in five tasks.
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Bioenergy Status Conference 2025
On 20/21 November 2025, the Bioenergy Status Conference will bring together researchers from the ‘Energetic use of biogenic residual and waste materials’ funding area with companies and associations for the 12th time in order to network and work together on a sustainable future.
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