Is Biomass combustion zero-carbon? UK report says no.
In the UK, the national Sustainable Building Association AECB has published the findings of its commissioned report that claims that policies assuming biomass energy is zero-carbon or ‘green’ are leading to additional carbon emissions in the UK rather than reducing them.
Nick Grant , co-author of ‘The Green Electricity Illusion said, “There is a lot of confusion around, with people mixing up the terms renewable, sustainable and low carbon. We need to take a step back from the seemingly endless arguments about the definition of zero carbon, and ask ourselves – what are we really trying to do here? I believe when you do this, it is clear that we need to go back to the simple principle of using less energy, in whatever form.”
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Filed Under: Featured • Research
bioblogger | Sep 9, 2010 | Reply
The principal argument in favor of biogenic vs. fossil feedstock conversion is that the former does not increase carbon into the carbon cycle whereas the latter reintroduces vast quantities of previously geologic time sequestered carbon.
When plant matter dies but it doesn’t just release CO2 as the authors describe. It releases methane which is 23 times worse a GHG than CO2.
They also ignore the other toxins and aromatics in fossil emissions (which are, among other problems, linked to health issues) vs. those in biogenic.
Yes, wood products like furniture and construction materials do sequester carbon longer than combusting it does – but how many constructions last 100 years longer than the trees they were converted from? Many of these forest products are not recyclable because of the paint, coatings and chemicals used in their manufacture.
Our overgrown forests need to be thinned and managed to spare them and their habitats from beetle kill and wildfires. That includes salvaging killed trees and converting them into fossil carbon replacement products and power. Otherwise, all that carbon goes to methane. See http://bit.ly/cRCe6t
New bioenergy infrastructure create markets for funding reforestation and afforestation.
RMida | Sep 9, 2010 | Reply
Nick is correct. Find out more information on Biomass Energy
or download our Biomass Facts Sheet.