Issues with bioenergy in New Zealand
Some of the current issues associated with bioenergy are:
Biomass fuels are often the waste products of other industries. This is particularly true of woody biomass from the wood harvesting and processing industries.
Being a waste product, it is often regarded as having little or no value and treated accordingly. The consequence of this is that the wood waste used for bioenergy can be of variable quality: made up of a range of particle sizes; contaminated with soil if improperly handled, and; partially decomposed if stored improperly. In addition, being tied to the timber industry, its supply is not guaranteed at any particular time and place.
The variable fuel quality and the lack of supply security increases the risk of investment in bioenergy plants. Investors often consider the risk too high. A change in the way in which wood waste is handled could bring about a dramatic change in the bioenergy industry. Case studies on efficient handling offer viable solutions. More...
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In countries with large forest resources, like Finland and Sweden, bioenergy from woody biomass is a rapidly growing industry. This is due to economic incentives, such a guaranteed prices for electricity generated from biomass, provided by the Government to kick start the industry.
Almost exclusively, growth in renewable energy resources worldwide is a result of Government intervention. The International Energy Agency has compiled an easy to use database on international renewable energy policies.
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In the case of woody biomass, carbon neutrality (or zero net carbon emissions) is based on the assumption that a new tree is planted for every tree that is harvested and then subsequently used for bioenergy. In reality it is often only the wood waste from timber production that is used in this way.
When forestry land is converted to other uses, (usually for short-term economic reasons) the assumption of carbon neutrality and sustainability is jeopardised. For this reason, woody biomass as an alternative to fossil fuel relies on the sustainable management of New Zealand’s forests.
Read a paper on the IEA's stance on bioenergy and sustainablility [PDF 249kb].
Read the MAF 2008 deforestation survey [183kb].
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Incomplete combustion in wood burners is one of the main causes of smog in New Zealand cities. The very fine particles that cause smog are also a cause of respiratory problems. More...
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