The change to modular power systems technology, in conjunction with feed-in tariffs turned out as decisive key for dissemination of photovoltaic(PV) systems, in the meantime easily configurable and installable in standard AC-wiring by local craftsmen. For sustainable energies as a whole, a major bottleneck still lies in the considerable engineering and planning efforts for more complex distributed thermal and electrical supplies, especially for the use of biomass as only influencable resource. As planning and integration efforts are increasing with more distributed, i.e. smaller installations, easily applicable methods and tools are becoming crucial for implementation and dissemination. In the same way, techno-economical performance monitoring of most diverse applications needs standards comparable to the established European PV monitoring which in between became an International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) standard.

Distributed spatial integration focuses on the strategic planning, i.e system sizing as result of spatial planning decisions. As missing link, the sustainable Biomass Resource Analysis for an Energetic Use in Defined Areas could be established as methodology, that is in a consistent way applicable on all geographical scales from multinational to national, regional and communal zones. Comparative qualification of concrete changes in the use of biomass for energetic purposes makes it transparently applicable on all policy and business levels, providing a common assessment frame.

Long-term sustainable estimation of biomass potential is based on categorization of biomass resources for energetic use, then allocating strategic costs and discussing the regional impact, thus providing a concise framework for a systematic analysis. The sustainable biomass index (SBI) is established, based on a comprehensive review on related work about sustainability measurement in business environments and the collection of sustainability criteria as well as European indicators for sustainable development. The structure of the index is composed equally weighing the socio-cultural, economical and ecological levels, discussed in several European conferences and publications until its final elaboration. Condensed in a single equation structure, especially addressing the problem of data-retrieval, practical application could be made straightforward, contributing a transparent and directly applicable method.

The SBI is compatible with inclusion of other renewable energies with less difficult origin, as wind and photovoltaic power, where resources are not to be collected, resp. stored. It thus opens the way to analyse the most appropriate potential of renewable energy sources on all geographical sizes in a unified method for integration of sustainable energy production from renewable sources in a way that is ecologic maintainable, economic efficient and socio-cultural conformable, in consistency with European Union’s regional policy legislation.

In general, spatial planning processes and the strategic management will be eased through this method of analysis, leading to improving energy efficiency and systematic, yet flexible ways to plan on all levels.