AsiaElec: Biomass or bust: the controversial rise of woody energy in Asia

In the past decade, Japan and South Korea have significantly expanded their reliance on woody biomass for energy, with projections indicating that Japan's capacity will reach 3.8 GW and South Korea’s 1.46 GW by 2026. This surge has been largely driven by government subsidies, such as Japan's feed-in tariff (FiT) programme and South Korea's Renewable Energy Certificates, which have aimed to position woody biomass as a renewable energy source. However, beneath this veneer of sustainability lies a complex web of environmental and financial concerns that question the viability of such an approach, as reported by SolarQuarter.

While the transition to woody biomass is promoted as a greener alternative, the reality is far from carbon-neutral. The lifecycle of biomass energy production encompasses substantial emissions from logging, transportation and processing. In fact, studies have revealed that burning woody biomass can emit up to 30% more carbon dioxide than coal, largely due to its lower energy density. Critics warn that this undermines the very goals these countries have set to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

A significant study by the Partnership for Policy Integrity highlights that the emissions from burning woody biomass can remain elevated for up to 104 years before any carbon savings are achieved. For nations like Japan and South Korea, this presents a paradox: their ambitions for reducing emissions may be compromised by their increasing reliance on this controversial energy source.

Health and safety issues further complicate the narrative surrounding biomass energy. Incidents of explosions and fires in biomass plants have raised alarms, often linked to the use of poor-quality fuel. Additionally, workers face health risks from the fungi and bacteria that can inhabit wood chips, adding another layer of concern to the sector’s expansion.

Despite these challenges, the co-firing of biomass with coal remains prevalent in both countries. As of September 2024, Japan and South Korea combined boast a capacity of 16.7 GW using this method. Critics argue that this strategy effectively prolongs the lifespan of coal plants, detracting from investments in genuinely sustainable alternatives like wind and solar energy. In Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has even endorsed biomass co-firing as a means of enhancing the efficiency of coal plants.

While Japan's FiT has historically incentivised biomass energy, the termination of subsidies for new co-firing plants in 2019 has not halted the momentum. South Korea’s continued preferential treatment of biomass in Renewable Energy Certificates has resulted in a dramatic increase in its use.

As Japan and South Korea continue down this path, the reliance on woody biomass raises serious questions about the integrity of their energy policies. Without a substantial shift towards genuinely renewable energy sources, these countries risk entrenching high carbon emissions, ultimately undermining their stated climate goals.

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