Is use of wooden biomass beneficial?
Posted by | Under Forest Thursday Dec 29, 2011
As we know that planting more number of trees helps in neutralising carbon as trees require carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. But biomass as a source of energy increases the carbon in the atmosphere.
Thus there is heated debate that biomass obtained from wood causes more harm to atmosphere than fossil fuels. Therefore there is confusion on whether biomass actually reduces carbon emission or not.
The study conducted by Manomet Centre for Conservation Sciences in Massachusetts says about the debt-then-dividend model. According to which wooden biomass will actually lead to increase in greenhouse effect rather than reducing it. It also says that time taken for carbon dividend to start depends upon type of biomass energy, Fossil fuel that is replaced by biomass and the extent of probable development of the wood .Thus this report indicates the disadvantage of wooden biomass as compared to fossil fuels as far as greenhouse effect is concerned.
Thus wooden resources which were looked upon as a substitute to fossil fuels is now have negative image because of its harmful effects .The study also talks that if wood is being used as a substitute, than the demand would be greater than actual growth of forest and this would lead to depletion of forest resources. When it comes to use of biomass at large scale, it is neither economical nor environmentally possible to use this resource.
Its use has been extremely criticised by anti biomass activists, but as per the report, it can be used in small scale where at least 40% energy efficiency has been attained.
There are some loop holes identified in debt-then-dividend model by Dr. Jay O’Laughlin. According to his report, carbon cycle is continuous and it does not wait for trees to die. It also says that wood can be used for other purpose as well which the fossil fuel can’t. There are other supporting reports as well that says that wood is carbon neutral and it adds no extra carbon in the atmosphere. Therefore the use of wood biomass can be used as renewable source of energy.