Biomass Energy, Forests and Climate Library

An analysis of the possible impacts of burning Namibian bushwood in Hamburg, highlighting that it would involve increases in greenhouse gas emissions.

Literature review of the impacts of burning woody biomass in Germany, which concludes that it is damaging to the climate.

Investigation into an EIB loan to a biomass plant in Galicia that highlights due diligence failures, resulting in the financing of a biomass plant that is below minimum efficiency standards and is environmentally damaging.

Briefing about the definitions and impacts of forestry and wood-industry residues, showing that the definitions are dangerously broad and hence that limiting subsidies to burning wood from 'residues', let alone so-called ‘low-value’ wood, cannot protect climate, forests, and biodiversity.

Briefing for UK parliamentarians on why biomass should not be treated as a renewable energy source

Biomass is jeopardizing Korea’s renewable energy sector and negating global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The rapid growth of biomass energy in Korea has shown a threatening trajectory, yet the root causes of this predicament remains unattended. This report aims to enhance the understanding of biomass power policy, and to analyze major socioeconomic, political and environmental drivers of problems associated with biomass power in South Korea. In this report, Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) has included key policy recommendations to address the problems associated with biomass.

Two interactive maps one on pellet facilities and the other on bioenergy plants have been produced from openly available sources and information provided members of the EPN Forests, Climate and Biomass working group worldwide. This is a constant work in progress and the maps will be updated regularly as new information becomes available. You are welcome to contribute to our data gathering or provide any new or updated data.

There is a new and growing threat to the world’s forests, people and climate – the biomass energy industry. Wood pellets are the major commodity feeding this industry.
This report outlines the evolution of this threat and maps its frightening expansion in scale and global extent now and over the next ten years.

Biomass is often described as a clean, renewable fuel and a greener alternative to coal and other fossil fuels for producing electricity. But recent science shows that many forms of biomass especially from forests produce higher carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels. In particular, a growing body of peer-reviewed, scientific studies shows that burning wood from whole trees in power plants to produce electricity can increase carbon emissions relative to fossil fuels for many decades anywhere from 35 to 100 years.1 This time period is significant: climate policy imperatives require dramatic short-term reductions in greenhouse gases, and these emissions will persist in the atmosphere well past the time when significant reductions are needed.

A report that reveals the potential scale of the threat to southeastern bottomland hardwood forests from wood pellet mills in the region. Millions of acres of vulnerable bottomland hardwood forests which provide critical habitat to a host of rare species and deliver important ecosystem services to local communities are in the bull’s eye of existing and proposed wood pellet mills’ potential sourcing areas.

A study commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council and conducted by Vivid Economics indicates that by 2025, electricity from coal-to-biomass conversions will not be one of the three lowest-cost forms of electricity in the United Kingdom, and will not be needed to ensure reliability of electricity supply as the country phases out coal. According to the findings, any new biomass capacity constructed will be outcompeted by lower cost generation and will thus be an obsolete asset within the decade. Continuing to support biomass conversion through a Contract-for-Difference could result in the country paying an excess implicit subsidy of over £360 million compared to wind energy.

A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Dogwood Alliance spotlights critical flaws in the Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) standard and raises serious questions about the standard’s ability to provide credible assurances of biomass sustainability and carbon emissions intensity.

A new report from climate change think tank Ember reveals the cost of burning wood for power, with energy billpayers committed to subsidies of more than £13 billion, including £10bn at Drax power station alone. In addition to the direct subsidy, we estimate biomass generators are receiving carbon tax breaks of £333 million a year.

Slide show illustrating the impact of land grabs on people, economies and the environment.

Video explaining why biomass energy isn't carbon neutral.