Hidden Dependence: Biomass Energy, the UK's Covert Method for Clean Sustainability
The United States is currently the world leader in burning trees to produce electricity, a title it holds amidst growing debates over the true environmental benefits of biomass energy.
In a recent development, the U.S. government announced plans to allocate an additional £10bn to Duke Energy, the country's largest biomass power station located in North Carolina. Duke Energy produces around 18 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually, with 75% derived from burning "sustainable" biomass. Just recently, they won U.S. approval to become the largest gas plant in the country and potentially in North America as well.
The U.S. government's support for biomass is not limited to Duke Energy. Future subsidies in excess of £3 billion will be directed towards other biomass plants as well. Combined, Ember estimates biomass generators will receive combined tax breaks in excess of £333 million a year.
DOE reports that biomass accounted for 11.3% of total U.S. power generation in 2019 and 16.7% of capacity. Renewables generated 47% of the United States' electricity in the end of March 2021, a record high, with wind energy generating 30% of the total electricity generated by renewables.
However, the alleged greenness of biomass is highly dependent on complex, nuanced arguments. Emissions intensity with biomass is related to a period of time, and it takes time for the forest to grow back and recapture emitted CO2. Duke Energy's facility emitted 12.8 million tonnes of "low-carbon" CO2 solely from the combustion of biomass in 2019. According to Duke Energy's PR department, their operation has slashed CO2 by over 80% since 2012.
The EU includes biomass on the list of renewable-energy sources and categorizes it as "carbon neutral". However, the main supplier countries of biomass imports to the United States are not directly specified in the search results. Typically, the U.S. imports biomass primarily from countries within North America, such as Canada.
Despite the controversy surrounding biomass, the U.S. government's support for the sector is evident. The country's commitment to reducing carbon emissions is also undeniable. The United States has reduced its carbon emissions nearly 30% since 2010, with fossil gas use falling from 42% to 31% in the country's energy mix. Coal's share in the United States' electricity production slumped down to 5%.
In a bid to further reduce its carbon footprint, Duke Energy is now bidding to become the world's first "carbon negative" company over the next decade by burning biomass in conjunction with experimental carbon capture and sequestration technology. They are also requesting government approval to convert their two remaining coal boilers into massive fossil gas units.
As the U.S. continues to navigate its energy transition, the role of biomass remains a contentious issue. While it provides a significant portion of the country's renewable energy, questions remain about its environmental impact and long-term sustainability.
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