Energy production from biomass refers to a series of procedures in which usable energy can be obtained from energy crops such as corn or sugar cane or waste and by-products such as organic waste or straw. The process is basically divided into the following steps:

1. Production: Firstly, the required biomass must be obtained. Depending on the process, either specific crops can be planted to grow energy crops or new supply chains can be set up to extract existing raw materials.
2. Provision: During provision, various processes are employed in so-called biorefineries in order to obtain high-quality energy end products.
3. Utilisation / Recycling: The solid, liquid or gaseous end products of the refining process are converted into useful energy in specific power stations or passed on directly to end consumers as (proportionately blended).
4. Disposal of waste from power generation

Ethically relevant aspects can be identified throughout the entire process and predominantly have an environmental and socio-ethical dimension. While the use of biomass as an energy source promises to produce energy with lower emissions and less dependence on international relations, new problems arise from common practices in the supply process. The emerging competition for agricultural land (food vs. fuel debate) has often been addressed. In order to produce large quantities of biomass, it will either be necessary to develop additional cultivation areas or existing areas previously used for food production will have to be converted in the future.  On the one hand, this is associated with an additional loss of uncultivated and biodiverse wilderness areas, which often has a negative impact on the overall ecological and climatic balance of biomass utilisation. On the other hand, the cultivation of energy crops often appears more profitable, which can lead to food shortages in the growing regions and exacerbate social inequalities. In some cases, new land is developed elsewhere for food production in order to compensate for the loss of biomass, whereby biomass production also indirectly contributes to the loss of forests and biodiversity (indirect land use change). In addition to the low environmental standards, it is also criticised that the biomass production phase in particular often takes place under exploitative working conditions, that workers are not adequately compensated and that negative environmental impacts resulting from cultivation are outsourced to the Global South, while the energy is primarily used in the Global North. However, energy production from biomass is expected to make a positive contribution to economic progress in growing regions, as it is a potentially permanently available and relatively cheap source of energy. Overall, it is criticised that the whole process of energy production is poorly regulated - both in terms of ecological and social standards.