Is bio-energy good or bad for decarbonization?
While almost every company is considering enhancing the use of bio-energy for both heating and power generation because of its claimed carbon neutrality, there are those who argue that bio-energy is not the low carbon solution that it is supposed to be.
According to them, wood pellets cause more carbon pollution than coal per unit of energy produced, and forest biomass is allowing power plant smokestacks to pump out greenhouse gas emissions today and into the future, quickening the pace of global warming.
Their concerns go beyond biodiversity losses and into air pollution concerns. Wood pellet factories release hazardous particulate matter and volatile organic compounds into the air, endangering public health.
I feel it is time we took these concerns seriously and have an authentic analysis of the sustainability of bio-energy for economic, environmental, and health well-being.
