Biomass Energy, Forests and Climate Library

Burning Up the Biosphere – Threat Map Webinar

Webinar based on the report “Burning up the Biosphere: A Global Threat Map of Biomass Energy Development” released by the Biomass Action Network of EPN International, which reveals that, according to the IEA’s Net Zero Scenario, a tripling of woody biomass supply for energy is assumed to occur between 2021 and 2030. This will include an incredible and dangerous increase in wood supply from monoculture plantations of up to 13 times current levels to meet the quantities required.

Will logging more in healthy forests reduce wildfire risk?

Given the unprecedented wildfires dominating headlines, including the recent tragedy in Jasper, Alberta, it’s tempting to believe we should attack the problem by charging into Canada’s forests with a phalanx of heavy machinery to “take down” the apparent enemy: old forests. However, decades of clearcut logging, conifer planting, and extensive fire suppression have more likely exacerbated wildfire risk to communities than diminished it. A fundamental rethink of our relationship to forests and wildfires is needed.

Biomass accounting is no longer fit for purpose

A peculiarity of UNFCCC and IPCC carbon accounting and reporting methodology is leading to unfair attribution of emissions from large-scale bioenergy. What is emerging, is an unintentional but concerning example of climate colonialism.

Biomass production, supply, uses and flows in the European Union

To provide a sound scientific basis for well-prepared EC policy making, the JRC was requested by Commission services to periodically provide data, processed information, models, and analysis on EU and global biomass supply and demand and its sustainability. This report is the 3rd public-facing report under this mandate.

Case study of upcoming energy plantations in Indonesia

A presentation by Forest Watch Indonesia which looks at the new and upcoming threat to forests which are to be utilised for energy (biomass) as a result of government's new renewable energy policies.

Economic factors influence net carbon emissions of forest bioenergy expansion

There is considerable concern that consuming forest biomass for energy will increase net carbon emissions from forests, which is defined as carbon debt. Using a market-based economic model, we test the effects of 51 demand pathways for forest bioenergy on future forest carbon stocks to assess the likelihood of incurring a sustained carbon debt lasting for several decades.

Dossier of resources debunking false biomass claims

A list of letters, reports and news articles which debunk false claims that biomass is a carbon neutral source of energy.

Sustainable Biomass Program: Certifying Paperwork without Looking at the Forest

Wood pellet burning in large power stations is only possible because of generous renewable energy subsidies under the Dutch SDE++ programme. In order to qualify for those subsidies, the wood is supposed to meet a set of SDE++ sustainability and greenhouse gas criteria. Since late 2019, all pellets certified by the Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) have been deemed to automatically meet those criteria.

In this briefing, we investigate whether the Dutch authorities’ decision to deem all SBP-certified wood pellets to meet national sustainability and greenhouse gas standards is justified. Our findings show that this is not the case, i.e., that the SBP does not provide credible auditing of supply chains or verification of claims made by pellet producers and that its interpretation of criteria is at odds with what is required under by the SDE++ scheme.

Emissions of wood pelletization and bioenergy use in the United States

Despite a significant increase in United States biomass energy sector activity, including domestic bioenergy deployment and wood pellet production for overseas exports, the associated criteria pollutant emissions are not well quantified in current regulatory emissions inventories. We present an updated U.S. emissions inventory, with emphasis on wood-based biomass pretreatment (e.g., drying, condensing, storage of wood pellet) and the use of biomass for energy generation.