A study reveals that pellet heating pollutes more than oil and coal

A recent study published in the journal Renewable Energy demonstrated, for the first time, that U.S. woody biomass plants emit on average an amount of pollution almost 3 times higher to that released by traditional fossil fuel plants, such as oil and coal.According to the research, In particular, the combustion of wood pellets for energy purposes emits a wide range of air pollutants, including particulate matter and dioxins which are highly harmful to human health.Thousands of tons of toxic air pollutants, from nitrogen oxide to volatile organic compounds, would also be emitted in the pellet production process, especially in the southeastern USA.Overall, at least 55 pollutants exceeded the concentration threshold allowed by state air quality agencies by two times.The higher values ​​- the study then highlighted - have a negative impact mostly on poor and minority communities who typically live near pellet plants.

In the United States, therefore, the combustion of forest biomass contributes up to 17% of all polluting emissions, despite representing only 1.3% of total energy production.When asked, representatives of the American Pellet Industry Association did not want to make any statements.However, just take a look at their site to realize how they are trying to mystify reality.In terms of climate-altering emissions, for example, the Association's website is full of content that states how the pellet industry is 'neutral' since the cut forests regrow over time and sequester the carbon emitted.Yet, even on this front, biomass combustion does not seem like a sensible choice.According to a 2018 study, this elusive climate neutrality would only occur if forests were cut to obtain pellets were left alone for over a century.Nonetheless, governments still appear determined to incentivize the sector.In June 2023, the U.S. Forest Service announced approximately $10 million to support a series of biomass burning pilot projects in Alaska, California, Washington, Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Virginia.All this, according to numerous environmental and social justice groups, thanks also to lobbying operations on the United States Congress by two of the largest pellet producers in the world, the Enviva and Drax companies which together operate over a dozen plants in the southeastern United States.

But even overseas the situation does not change.Both the European Union and the United Kingdom have already spent billions in public funds to convert dozens of coal-fired power plants to pellet plants.Suffice it to say that, in the EU alone, the combustion of biomass for energy production represents almost 60% of the so-called renewable energy mix.Thus, overall, the Old Continent represents the largest world market for wood pellets.And, despite scientists' warnings, growth does not appear to be slowing down.In 2021, pellet consumption in the EU has risen to over 23 million tonnes and demand, also thanks to the REDII renewable energy directive, is expected to rise further.And it is precisely on this point that environmentalists are trying to leverage to change things.How can a directive intended to promote sustainability support a sector harmful in terms of pollution and impacts on the climate and ecosystems? For example, the activists of the Forest Defenders Alliance.An alliance made up of more than 100 NGOs which promoted a petition about a year ago to ask Europe to review the Directive on renewable energy, especially under the heading 'Wood combustion', to which 17 billion euros of subsidies for the production of renewable energy.

[by Simone Valeri]