Bioenergy emissions scrutinised as UK plans to grow sector

The first detailed analysis of the emissions associated with burning woody biomass imported from the US suggests that in the UK, 13–16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were added to the atmosphere in 2019. That’s the equivalent of 6–7 million cars . Emissions are expected to grow to 17–20 million tonnes a year by 2025.

The study, by researchers at Chatham House and the Woodwell Climate Research Centre in the US, examined the entire supply chain taking in the impact on forest carbon stocks, to the energy cost of processing and transporting the wood pellets to the UK, where electricity producer Drax is the biggest importer. Other plants are planned in the UK, while energy from biomass is increasing across the EU.