biomass is sustainable

First and foremost it is absolutely vital to understand that there is not one company on Earth cutting down a tree for biomass, nor growing olives for orujillo nor sunflowers for SFHP.

Prove it

Starting with public enemy number 1 – Wood Pellets.

As of early November, 1 tonne of certified sustainable industrial wood pellets is around $200 delivered to a northern European port. Currently 1m3 of cut lumber on the US Futures Exchange, CME Group, is around €320. There is no lack of demand for timber. It is simply uneconomical to produce a wood pellet from a standing tree.

Agricultural Wastes & Residues

The contrast here is clearer still. Sunflower oil is the reason for building a crushing facility.

Black Sea Sunflower Oil is trading comfortably over $1200 per tonne, basis FOB Ukraine.

While prices vary greatly between region, assume a discount to wood pellets on sunflower husks due to the presence of certain elements and higher ash content making them less suitable to a boiler.

What about Production

The heat needed in a pellet plant & oilseed processing plant comes from their own wastes. Bark, low grade shavings, offcuts, shells, husks, EFB, etc are used to process the product: lumber & vegetable oils

Even after using these low-grade wastes for their own needs there is an excess of material to be densified and used as a fossil fuel replacement elsewhere.

Carbon Neutral

Oils come from annuals, with the exception of palm and olive, meaning that every year seeds are planted and absorb CO2 as they grow. If a small percentage of that plant: the husks, shells, pulp, is combusted releasing carbon dioxide it will be reabsorbed in further planting.

Forest cover in Europe is increasing: Eurostat, while the use of woody bioenergy has also increased. Branches, fallen trees, agricultural residues if left to decompose produce methane, a gas far more harmful than carbon dioxide.

The Human Aspect

Too often the human being is left out of the dialogue surrounding biofuels. Biomass does not cannibalise any industry or jobs. This industry takes what is already there: low grade wastes and residues, and adds value while it may have been left to previously rot. It takes labour and new jobs to run the machinery, the logistics, and the compliance.

So much of the production of biomass takes place in rural areas that have been losing jobs over the past decades. Biomass creates new jobs around “old” industries.