Biomass is the oldest and most widely used energy source in the history of mankind . Total biomass energy potential in Slovakia is approximately 120.10⁶ MJ. That means that full exploitation of the potential of biomass could replace about 15 % of energy consumption in Slovakia.

The term biomass describes the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues of biological origin from agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances), forestry industry, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste. Biomass has been often used as source of energy and material. With the development of mankind, the acquisition of other natural and synthetic materials together with the start of the use of fossil fuels decreased the importance of biomass as a source of energy and materials. However, today the importance of biomass as a renewable source of energy and raw materials is increasing again.

The final product of biomass is mainly the heat and biofuels for motor vehicles. The advantage of energy produced in this way is the environmental aspect – the production from renewable sources.

Research activities of the center focus mainly on the dominant component of biomass in Slovakia – the wood, but also for treatment of biomass waste (biodegradable municipal waste) and purposely grown biomass, whose products can be energy, but also various materials.

Withing the research tasks are analyzed different methods of processing of biomass (pyrolysis, gasification) in order to develop advanced technologies for pellet boilers for pyrolysis and the production of biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas).