Our recent investigations into Drax Group -one of the world’s renewable energy companies whose operations centre around the production of sustainable biomass and the sale of renewable electricity to businesses recently led us to ask an important question. Is biomass energy good for the environment?
In this article we’ll take a closer look at the for and against arguments and why biomass energy is not always as environmentally friendly as many would hope.
What Is Biomass Energy?
Biomass energy is a form of renewable energy that is generated from organic matter such as wood, agricultural crops, and waste materials. It is a type of bioenergy, which refers to energy derived from biomass, biofuels, and other biogenic sources.
Biomass can be converted into energy using a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion. During these processes, the biomass is burned, heated, or digested to produce energy in the form of heat, electricity, or fuel.
It can be produced from a wide range of sources, including wood chips, sawdust, agricultural waste, food waste, and sewage sludge. It can be used to generate electricity, heat buildings, and power vehicles. Or it can be produced on a small scale, such as in a wood stove or pellet stove or on a large scale, such as in a power plant.
Biomass energy is considered by many to be a renewable energy source, as the organic materials used to produce it can be continuously replenished through sustainable practices such as planting and harvesting crops or through waste-to-energy processes. Additionally, many believe that biomass energy has the potential to be carbon-neutral, as the carbon dioxide released during the combustion process is considered by some to be part of a natural carbon cycle, as the carbon dioxide released is eventually reabsorbed by new plant growth.
The Case For Biomass Energy
The argument for biomass energy is that it is a renewable and potentially carbon-neutral source of energy that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Biomass energy is generated from organic matter such as wood, agricultural crops, and waste materials.
Proponents of biomass energy argue that it is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Unlike fossil fuels, biomass energy can be continuously replenished by planting and harvesting crops, or through waste-to-energy processes. Biomass can also be sourced locally, which can help support rural economies and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources.
Another argument for biomass energy is that it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When organic materials are burned or converted into energy, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, the carbon dioxide released during the combustion process is considered to be part of a natural carbon cycle, as the carbon dioxide released is eventually reabsorbed by new plant growth. As such, biomass energy can be considered a carbon-neutral source of energy, as long as the biomass is produced sustainably.
The Case Against Biomass Energy
There are also arguments against biomass energy. Critics argue that biomass energy production can have negative environmental impacts, such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil erosion. Additionally, the sustainability of biomass energy production depends on factors such as the type of biomass being used, how it is sourced, and how efficiently it is converted into energy. If not managed sustainably, biomass energy production could actually result in increased greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change. We take a closer look at these points below.
Biomass Production Requires Large Amounts of Land and Water
Biomass is a so-called renewable energy source produced from crops like corn, sugarcane, and sugar beets. Today, these crops are grown on about 0.5% of the Earth’s land area. The biomass crops used for generating energy also require a lot of water. It takes about 1 gallon of water to produce 1 kilogram of biomass feedstock. This means that it takes a lot of water to grow the feedstock used to produce biomass. Growing feedstock for biomass also has an impact on the environment since it leads to deforestation and soil erosion.
Biomass is Bad for Life on Land
Biomass is often burned to produce electricity. When this happens, the biomass releases harmful substances like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Burning biomass releases about the same amount of carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels.
Burning biomass therefore has two major negative effects on the environment: it increases pollution and it changes the biological makeup of the atmosphere. Burning biomass releases carbon dioxide and particulate matter into the atmosphere. Burning biomass also releases sulfur dioxide, which is harmful to human health.
If biomass is burned in an uncontrolled manner, such as in wildfires, it can release large amounts of pollutants and smoke that can negatively impact air quality and soil health. This can lead to decreased crop yields and reduced soil fertility, as well as health problems for humans and animals. Biomass also has the potential to affect the weather system, although the magnitude of these effects depends on a variety of factors.
One way that biomass can affect the weather system is by releasing greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. When these gases accumulate in the atmosphere, they can trap heat and contribute to global warming. This can lead to changes in weather patterns, such as increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather events.
As Well as Life Under Water
Additionally, the above can lead to rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and sea level rise. These changes can have significant negative impacts on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, fish populations, and other marine organisms. This is as well as the indirect effects on marine systems of air pollution, which can be carried by wind and deposited in the ocean leading to decreased water quality, reduced sunlight penetration, and increased acidity, which can harm marine organisms and ecosystems.
It Can Take a Long Time to Recover From Burning Biomass
The recovery time from burning biomass depends on several factors, such as the type and amount of biomass burned, the frequency of burning, and the ecosystem in which the burning occurs.
If biomass is burned at a sustainable rate, such as in traditional slash-and-burn agriculture or prescribed burns for forest management, the recovery time can be relatively short. In these cases, the burned area may begin to regenerate within a few weeks or months, depending on the ecosystem.
However, if biomass is burned at an unsustainable rate, such as in uncontrolled wildfires or the conversion of forests to agricultural land, the recovery time can be much longer. In these cases, the burned area may take years or even decades to recover, and the ecosystem may be permanently altered.
It’s worth noting that burning biomass for energy production can be done in a sustainable manner that minimizes negative impacts on ecosystems. For example, if biomass is harvested from sustainably managed forests or agricultural lands, and burned in high-efficiency biomass power plants that minimize emissions, the environmental impacts can be minimized. Additionally, some biomass power plants use technologies such as co-firing with fossil fuels, carbon capture and storage, or waste heat utilization to further reduce environmental impacts and improve efficiency.
Examples Of Biomass Energy Companies
Here are some examples of companies that use biomass energy:
Drax Group: As mentioned above, Drax Group is a UK-based energy company that has converted one of its coal-fired power stations to use biomass instead. The company uses wood pellets made from sustainably managed forests to generate electricity, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by over 80%. See our Drax Group ESG report.
General Electric: General Electric (GE) is a US-based multinational conglomerate that produces a range of energy technologies. The company has developed a range of biomass power plants, including ones that use wood chips and agricultural waste as fuel. See our General Electric ESG report.
Dominion Energy: Dominion Energy is a US-based energy company that has converted several of its coal-fired power plants to use biomass instead. The company uses wood waste from forestry operations and sawmills as fuel, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by over 50%. See our Drax Group ESG report.
Pinnacle Renewable Energy: Pinnacle Renewable Energy is a Canadian company that produces wood pellets for use in biomass power plants. The company sources its wood from sustainably managed forests and has a goal of producing carbon-neutral pellets by 2025. See our Dominion Energy ESG report.
Enviva Partners: Enviva Partners is a US-based company that produces wood pellets for use in biomass power plants. The company sources its wood from sustainably managed forests and has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030.
Summing Up
The environmental impact of biomass energy depends on several factors, including the type of biomass being used, how it is sourced, and how it is converted into energy. As such, it is difficult to give a definitive answer as to whether biomass energy is good or bad for the environment, as the impact can vary depending on the specific circumstances.
On the one hand, proponents of biomass energy argue that it is a renewable and potentially carbon-neutral source of energy that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Biomass energy is generated from organic matter such as wood, agricultural crops, and waste materials, which can be continuously replenished through sustainable practices such as planting and harvesting crops or through waste-to-energy processes.
Moreover, unlike fossil fuels, biomass can be sourced locally, which can help support rural economies and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. Additionally, biomass energy can potentially provide environmental benefits such as reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and providing a way to manage invasive species.
On the other hand, critics argue that biomass energy production can have negative environmental impacts, such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil erosion. For example, if forests are clear-cut to produce biomass for energy, this can result in significant loss of biodiversity, increased carbon emissions, and soil degradation. Moreover, if the biomass is not produced or managed sustainably, it could contribute to environmental problems such as soil depletion and water pollution.
In summary, while biomass energy has the potential to be a renewable and potentially carbon-neutral source of energy, its impact on the environment depends on how it is sourced and managed. It is important to carefully evaluate the environmental impacts of biomass energy production in each specific case, taking into account factors such as the type of biomass being used, its origin, and its potential impact on the surrounding ecosystem.