Can we achieve net-zero burning wood biomass?
It sounds crazy but, until about a week ago, I had no idea the European Union and the UK Government classes the burning of wood as a low carbon energy source. This logic is based on the fact the carbon released into the atmosphere when burning wood biomass was absorbed out of the atmosphere as the trees grew and, newly planted replacement saplings will repeat the carbon absorption cycle again. In 2020, 12.6% of the UK's electricity production came from burning biomass contributing towards reducing coal burning for power generation to just 1.8% in 2020 from 28.2% in 2010. That is an astonishing achievement in a decade. Something which isn't celebrated enough. At the same time, we must remember how far we still have to go to decarbonise. Biomass is a bit of a double edged sword as well. Although it is ultimately renewable, there is a time lag we must remember to appreciate. If you burn a tree today, all that carbon goes into the atmo...