BEST – Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH is the largest Austrian research centre in the field of bioenergy. We offer research, development, demonstration and other services in the field of biomass to energy to our customers and project partners. Our activities cover all relevant technologies for the efficient and environmentally friendly provision of fuels, heat and power from biomass. In addition, we also research options for the industrial, non-energetic use of biomass, e.g. the production of primary products for the chemicals industry.
Mission
Based on the matchmaking between the economic needs of a private company and the requirements of high level research we aim
- to increase the performance of Austrian industry by being industry’s scientific and technological backbone,
- to provide technology transfer services for industry partners
- to educate and mentor young scientists,
- to establish and care for successful R&D networks,
- to significantly contribute to achieve the targets of the Austrian and the EU Biomass Action Plan,
- and to significantly contribute to the formation of a biobased economy.
Research
Our research focuses on three conversion technologies
- biomass combustion
- biomass gasification and downstream syntheses
- biogas and bioconversion
as well as cross cutting topics dealing with
- sustainable supply and value-added chains
- automation and control of thermochemical processes and thermal systems
- CFD modelling of thermochemical biomass conversion processes
- microgrids
Within BRISK 2, we focus on
- Characterisation of biomass feedstocks and by-products from biomass conversion;
- Conversion behaviour of biomass feedstocks in combustion/gasification/pyrolysis processes;
- Aerosol formation and characterization in biomass combustion and gasification plants;
- Development of new and innovative measurement methods for product gas trace substances and tars in product gases
- Development of gas cleaning methods, e.g. desulfurization of gasifier product gases
- Development of CFD models for flow and biomass conversion as well as flue gas and product gas treatment units
Rigs
Partner | Location | Rig Code | Rig Name | Rig Status | Rig Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST | Austria | BE1 | Pilot Scale Combustion Plant | Unavailable | Stefan Retschitzegger |
BEST | Austria | BE2 | Combustion reactor coupled with drop furnace | Available | Stefan Retschitzegger |
BEST | Austria | BE3 | Fixed bed lab scale reactor | Available | Stefan Retschitzegger |
BEST | Austria | BE4 | Single Particle Reactor | Available | Stefan Retschitzegger |
BEST | Austria | BE5 | TGA-DTG-DSC Coupled with a Mass Spectrometer | Available | Stefan Retschitzegger |
Contacts
Click on the person you would like to contact to create an email. Please include BRISK2 in the subject. You can also follow our team on LinkedIn by clicking the logo beneath each picture

Stefan Retschitzegger
Lead Partner & TA Contact

Norbert Kienzl
Additional Contact
Biofuels Research Infrastructure
