Bioenergy is the main source for renewable energy in Austria. A sustainable utilization of the Austrian biomass potential of currently 200 PJ (peta joule) allows an increase up to 256 PJ in the year 2020 as indicated in the this chart (Austrian Energy Agency, “Vorstudie für einen nationalen Biomasseaktionsplan für Österreich”, 2006).

The climate and energy package of the European Union and the energy strategy allows an increase of the share of renewables in Austria up to 34% of the final energy consumption until 2020, to stabilize the final energy consumption at the value of 2005 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for 16 % compared to 2005.

During the last years the absolute and relative contributions of renewable energy sources are raised based on national consumption.

In order to stabilize the final energy consumption and thus create the precondition for achieving the climate goals for 2020, a package of measures is necessary. Therefore necessary steps are legal measures, the increase of costs for fossil fuels, the promotion of renewable energy sources and in particular the promotion of energy efficiency measures.

In order to achieve and support environmental objectives at regional, national and European level, it was tried to elaborate a regional action plan for the ecoEnergyland with various short-, middle- and long term measures (RESP - Renewable Energy Strategy Planning) in the course of the project Coach Bioenergy. The basis goal is to become independent from fossil fuels and to seek the way of decentralized energy supply.

The main result of the study shows the advantage of concentrating the planning and implementation work regarding renewable energy on a regional level. This strategy brings more flexibility. Step by step, municipalities respectively districts should be encouraged to approve environmental–political topics to achieve goals in respect to the decision 20-20-20 (20% less greenhouse gas emissions, 20% share of renewable energy, 20% more energy efficiency by the year 2020). Generally, energy self-sufficiency requires a strong involvement of the regions. In future, regional lugs have to grow together into larger units and as well as urban regions and also large companies should be included in the considerations.

As already mentioned, the communities should get an important role and so a master plan for the energy and climate sector should be mandatory for every municipality. Based on such master plan it should be created the right "mix of energy'' and the ''right way" for the community. The master plan itself should represent a general overview of the current energy situation, the weaknesses and strengths, advantages or disadvantages, energy potential respectively energy demand in each municipality. This should strengthen the regional economy of each region, creating jobs and regional added value, and mainly obtaining the quality of life. By all these activities the local energy supply is in the foreground. Also the sector of private households has an important role in the future by establishing "house power plants". The grid provider itself should support this system by smart grids and smart meters.

Of course another important point is the procurement and protection of natural resources. An important point of sustainable management in agriculture and forestry is to be in harmony with nature and to meet the needs of the people. Therefore, funding instruments are in great demand for these purposes which should undoubtedly be improved. The idea of a local feedstock association could be an alternative to existing facilities in the water and wastewater sector and to break existing problems in the supply of raw materials.

The communities themselves have many resources that are not used so far because there are missing certain preconditions and also necessary structures. A cornerstone of this could be a regional feedstock association. Based on the structure of already well-functioning water and wastewater associations the regional feedstock association should be set up and mobilize unused sources.