In order to efficiently use renewable energy sources in a region, knowledge about the availability of different potentials is a prerequisite. Agricultural biomass potential is quite well understood and data is available, but for forestry biomass there is still a lack of reliable spatially explicit data, especially in small structured private forest properties.
This project will close this gap by using LiDAR data currently being acquired for the whole province of Styria. Both agricultural and forest potentials as well as energy demands will be integrated in so-called technology-networks in order to optimize the use of regional resources. An easy-to-use as well as reliable tool for decision making is developed.
The use of renewable energies, especially biomass, is a controversially discussed issue in society. The competition between „food and fuel“ and the presumed consequences of reserving former  agricultural/ forestal surfaces for energy „production“ raises discussions and problems of acceptance. As a result of a moderated stakeholder discussion process, we will therefore integrate ethical aspects in the development of the decision making tool.

Begin and end of the project:  1.1. 2010 – 31.10. 2011

Contact person concerning ethical issues: Ingrid Kaltenegger