[[Biomass]] made up 7.0% of Germany's power generation mix in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 January 2018|title=Germany's energy consumption in 2017|language=en-US|work=Energy Transition|url=https://energytransition.org/2018/01/german-energy-consumption-2017/|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Biomass has the potential to be a [[carbon-neutral]] fuel because growing biomass absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and a portion of the carbon absorbed remains in the ground after harvest.<ref>https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41603.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> However, using biomassBiomass as a fuel produces [[air pollution]] in the form of [[carbon monoxide]], [[carbon dioxide]], [[NOx|{{NOx}}]] (nitrogen oxides), VOCs ([[volatile organic compound]]s), particulates and other pollutants, although biomass produces less sulfur dioxide than coal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfpi.net/air-pollution-2|title=Air pollution from biomass energy|date=17 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Eartha Jane Melzer|date=26 January 2010|title=Proposed biomass plant: Better than coal?|work=The Michigan Messenger|url=http://michiganmessenger.com/33868/proposed-biomass-plant-better-than-coal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205080916/http://michiganmessenger.com/33868/proposed-biomass-plant-better-than-coal|archive-date=5 February 2010}}</ref>
Between 2004 and 2011 policies lead to around {{convert|7000 km<sup>2</sup>|sqkm|mi2|abbr=on}} new maize-fields for biomass-energy by ploughing-up of at least {{convert|2700 km<sup>2</sup>|sqkm|mi2|abbr=on}} of permanent grassland. This released large amounts of climate active gases, [[loss of biodiversity]], and potential of groundwater recharge.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ukhanova|first1=Mariya|last2=Schoof|first2=Nicolas|last3=Neher|first3=Lucas|last4=Luick|first4=Rainer|date=2018|title=Balancing energy transition in Germany: how will it influence permanent grassland? A Delphi-study|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331922425|journal=Grassland Science in Europe|volume=23|pages=679–671}}</ref>
There are also attempts to use [[biogas]] as partially renewable fuel with [[Green Planet Energy]] selling gas containing 10% of biogas, 1% hydrogen and 90% imported fossil gas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 March 2021|title=Is Germany's Greenpeace Energy at peace selling natural gas?|url=https://www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/is-germanys-greenpeace-energy-at-peace-with-selling-mostly-natural-gas/|access-date=16 September 2021|website=Climate & Capital Media|language=en}}</ref>
