Güssing uses wood from the surrounding forests, converting it into gas, heat and electricity. Its electricity production will from now on exceed its domestic consumption and the town is now exporting throughout the region. A European centre for renewable energy was opened in 1996 to promote the "Güssing " model. This ambitious project, supported by the European Union, has signalled the creation of jobs in an area which was undergoing a number of financial difficulties. EU Commissioner Danuta Hübner visited the project during a regional tour of the Burgenland.

Güssing is a model for the forward-looking renewable energy policy at local level that is driving the economic development of the whole region. Using wood from local forests in its biomass heating plant, the town produces more electricity than it consumes and is able to provide power for the entire region. Güssing's transformation started 15 years ago when, struggling to pay its electricity bill, the town ordered that all public buildings would stop using fossil fuels. Since then, Güssing has fostered a whole renewable energy industry. Over 50 companies and 1.000 jobs have been created in in the renewable energy sector alone and, since 1995, Güssing has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 93%. Peter Vadasz, mayor of Güssing, said EU funding (€461.000) was an essential lever for triggering the additional national and regional funding needed to make this ambitious project happen.