The increasing pressure on biomass resources makes it important to optimally utilize locally available resources. Heat generation and use from biomass has been undertaken in several European countries including Germany and is also supported by policy instruments. This paper aims at identification and spatial visualisation of existing biomass plants for heat use and assesses the importance of settlement density for heat use planning. The results indicate that there are strong regional and intra­regional differences that need to be accounted for while undertaking spatial planning for heat use. Heat use potential of plants may be increased by traditional and non­traditional district heating based depending on high or low heat demand.