A new chapter in Europe’s clean energy development began in late October 2024 with the opening of a Syncraft biomass power plant in Gänserndorf, Lower Austria. Built by Syncraft, a leading technology firm, the facility generates renewable electricity and heat while actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Syncraft has a strong track record, with over 25 of its power plants in continuous operation, collectively exceeding 800,000 hours of use, reports Clean Technica.
The plant utilizes a patented gasification process to convert local forest waste into energy. It supplies 500 kilowatts of electricity to the local power grid and provides 750 kilowatts of heat for the town’s district heating system. A key byproduct of this process is high-quality biochar, a form of “green carbon” that permanently stores approximately 30% of the CO₂ originally present in the wood used as fuel.
Unlike traditional biomass systems that release all their carbon emissions back into the atmosphere, Syncraft’s technology creates what is effectively a carbon sink. When the resulting biochar is used in long-lasting applications like construction materials or metallurgy, it locks away carbon for many years, even centuries.
These “reverse power plants,” like the one now operating in Gänserndorf, are increasingly being recognized not just as sources of renewable energy but also as important tools for carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Scientists consider CDR essential for achieving climate goals.
The power plant was developed through a partnership with PurEnergy, an Austrian energy services company. At the inauguration event, PurEnergy Managing Director Alfred Körner emphasized the plant’s significance, stating, “Only green electricity, heat, and green coal are produced here. With the Syncraft plant, we are taking a promising and climate-friendly path into the future.”
Syncraft, based in Tyrol, has become a global leader in carbon-negative power plant technology. Its installations, known for their modular and locally based design, are gaining popularity across Europe and the US due to growing interest in energy solutions that not only produce clean energy but also capture carbon. The deployment of technologies that generate clean energy while storing carbon is now a reality, and Syncraft’s proven technology is taking advantage of this opportunity.
