Law and regulationEvent
Austria: ordinance of 16 January 2026 lowers rates for biogas and biomass
Amendment to the EAG-Marktprämienverordnung (BGBl. II 13/2026) for 2026–2027: biogas 29.02 ct/kWh, most follow-up premiums lower, tender cap for biomass 18.41 ct/kWh.
Other language versions: polski.
On 16 January 2026 the Austrian Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism published an amendment to the market premium ordinance (BGBl. II Nr. 13/2026). For 2026 and 2027 it lowers the applicable values for biogas and most categories of biomass: for new biogas plants from 32.83 to 29.02 ct/kWh, and for existing ones from 23.83 to 22.60 ct/kWh. The provisions entered into force the day after publication.
Biogas rates
| Category | 2024–2025 | 2026–2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogas, new installations | 32.83 ct/kWh | 29.02 ct/kWh | −11.6% |
| Biogas, follow-up premium | 23.83 ct/kWh | 22.60 ct/kWh | −5.2% |
We described the previous rates in the entry Austria: new EAG rates for 2024–2025.
Biomass rates
| Category | Capacity | 2024–2025 | 2026–2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New, pure biomass | up to 50 kWel | 25.75 | 25.76 |
| New, pure biomass | above 50 kWel | 24.71 | 24.27 |
| New, waste and bark | all | 21.92 | 21.06 |
| Repowering, pure biomass | all | 22.91 | 21.94 |
| Repowering, waste and bark | all | 20.25 | 18.95 |
| Follow-up premium, pure biomass | up to 500 kWel | 15.72 | 12.63 |
| Follow-up premium, pure biomass | above 500 kWel | 11.44 | 11.32 |
| Follow-up premium, waste and bark | up to 500 kWel | 13.56 | 10.52 |
| Follow-up premium, waste and bark | above 500 kWel | 8.46 | 8.61 |
All values in ct/kWh. The largest cut applies to the follow-up premium for small installations (up to 500 kWel): by about 22% for waste and bark (from 13.56 to 10.52 ct/kWh) and by almost 20% for pure biomass (from 15.72 to 12.63 ct/kWh). A small increase applies only to new installations up to 50 kWel (by 0.01 ct) and to the follow-up premium for waste above 500 kWel. For power plants with extraction-condensing turbines the follow-up premium is 14.57 ct/kWh (pure biomass) and 11.42 ct/kWh (waste).
Tender caps and deadlines
Bid caps in the tender are 18.41 ct/kWh for new biomass installations (previously 19.32) and 16.63 ct/kWh for repowered ones (previously 18.14), reductions of just under 5% and more than 8% respectively. Biomass tenders are planned once in 2026 and once in 2027, each with a volume of 7500 kWel.
Basis of the values and transition
The values are based on the third EAG expert report, commissioned by the ministry from the Austrian Energy Agency; it indicates the proposed caps and values for all technologies. The transitional rule is simple: applications and bids submitted before the ordinance entered into force are handled under the old rates, as are contracts concluded under the previous provisions.
Who this matters for
For operators of existing biogas plants and biomass power plants completing their first support period: follow-up premiums have fallen, so the calculation for extending operation needs updating. Biogas at 29.02 ct/kWh is about PLN 1230/MWh at an exchange rate of about PLN 4.24 per euro (indicative, January 2026).
Sources
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