Switzerland explores biomass as a key to reducing gas dependence through system-wide optimisation

Switzerland could cover a meaningful share of its future gas needs by making better use of biomass, according to a study led by the Paul Scherrer Institute and commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The research suggests that domestic sources such as wood residues, sewage sludge and green waste could replace a sizeable portion of imported fossil gas, easing exposure to volatile international markets and cutting emissions at the same time.

The findings matter beyond Switzerland. For industrial users facing pressure to decarbonise while preserving reliability and process heat, the study is a reminder that biomass is not a single-purpose fuel, but a constrained resource that has to be allocated where it creates the greatest system value. The PSI team argues that the right answer is not simply to maximise local production, but to match each biomass stream with the end use that delivers the highest overall benefit.

Tilman Schildhauer, a chemical engineer at PSI working on methanation and power-to-X technologies, said the point is to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels rather than aim for absolute self-sufficiency. Christian Bauer, who worked on the assessment of environmental impacts, said Switzerland’s geography and land use mean it cannot dedicate large areas purely to energy crops. Instead, the opportunity lies in residues and waste materials that would otherwise be underused.

The study envisions two parallel shifts. First, it says the wider energy system must become much more efficient, with technologies such as heat pumps replacing gas where possible. That would sharply reduce demand. Second, the available biomass should be converted into biomethane as efficiently as possible so that the gas that is still needed can be supplied from domestic or regional sources.

That matters because gas will not disappear from the economy altogether. The researchers note that gas-fired generation may still be needed to back up renewable power during periods of low wind and sun, while a range of industrial processes will remain dependent on high-temperature heat and gaseous feedstocks. For sectors such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, that creates a continuing need for molecules, not only electrons.

The PSI analysis says Switzerland could meet roughly a quarter to half of expected future gas demand from domestic biomass if the system is organised intelligently. The remainder would still need to come from abroad, but the study argues that this could increasingly be sourced from European neighbours rather than distant suppliers, reducing transport exposure and improving security of supply.

A key message is that infrastructure choices must be made at system level. Small wood gasifiers, medium-sized plants and large industrial installations each have different strengths, and the wrong allocation can create bottlenecks. PSI says it would make little sense to burn transportable wood for low-temperature heating in one place if that same feedstock, or the biomethane derived from it, could support hard-to-electrify industrial processes elsewhere.

Technically, the pathways are mature. In larger gasification plants, biomass can be converted into a nitrogen-free product gas that is suitable for methanation. Using nickel-based catalysts, the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in that gas can be turned into methane and water, with the water then removed through condensation. The resulting biomethane can be fed into the gas grid, provided the necessary network infrastructure exists.

The researchers also stress that the biomass in question is not intended to compete with food or animal feed production. Instead, it comes from material streams that are currently wasted or insufficiently valorised. PSI says several newer gasifier designs could reach the market within the next few years, suggesting the main barriers are now less about science than about investment, infrastructure and smart deployment.

For industrial decarbonisation planners, the broader lesson is clear: biomethane is likely to be most valuable where it substitutes for hard-to-abate fossil gas, not where cheaper electrification options exist. In that sense, the Swiss study aligns with PSI’s wider energy research agenda, which has repeatedly emphasised that low-carbon fuels are only truly competitive when matched to the right local conditions, resources and financing environment.