Woody Biomass: A Questionable Path To Renewable Energy In Japan And South Korea

In the past decade, the use of woody biomass for energy in Japan and South Korea has significantly increased, with both countries adding substantial capacity. Despite this growth, concerns persist about its financial viability and environmental impact. Both nations have relied on government subsidies to promote woody biomass as a renewable energy source, despite evidence suggesting it is not as sustainable as claimed.

In Japan, woody biomass energy production is set to reach 3.8 GW (gigawatts) by 2026, while South Korea is projected to have 1.46 GW (gigawatts) by the same year. These projects benefit from renewable energy incentives like the Feed-in-Tariff program in Japan and Renewable Energy Certificates in South Korea. However, burning woody biomass is far from carbon-neutral. The energy production process involves significant emissions from logging, transportation, and processing, in addition to the emissions from burning the wood itself. Woody biomass burning can produce up to 30% more carbon emissions than coal due to its lower energy density.

A major issue is the long-term environmental impact. A study from the Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI) highlights that burning woody biomass can increase emissions for up to 104 years before any carbon savings are realized. This means that for countries like Japan and South Korea, which aim to reduce emissions, woody biomass may not be a suitable long-term solution.

Additionally, the combustion of woody biomass presents health and safety risks. There have been cases of explosions and fires in biomass plants, with poor-quality fuel often cited as a contributing factor. Workers handling the material are also exposed to potential health risks, such as fungi and bacteria present in the wood chips.

Despite these concerns, Japan and South Korea continue to support biomass co-firing with coal. As of September 2024, Japan and South Korea had 16.7 GW (gigawatts) of combined capacity using a mixture of bioenergy and coal. This approach is criticized for allowing the countries to extend the use of coal plants rather than focusing on cleaner energy sources like wind and solar. In Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has even justified the use of biomass to make coal plants appear more efficient.

In Japan, the Feed-in-Tariff program has played a key role in promoting biomass energy. Although co-firing plants are no longer eligible for the scheme as of 2019, the 38 plants that were previously approved will continue to receive subsidies for 20 years. South Korea, on the other hand, still grants higher Renewable Energy Certificate weightings to biomass than to solar or wind, which has led to a dramatic increase in woody biomass burning.

Moving forward, the reliance on woody biomass as a renewable energy source remains controversial. Critics argue that it diverts resources away from truly sustainable options like solar and wind power. Without a shift in energy policy, Japan and South Korea risk maintaining high levels of carbon emissions, despite their stated goals to reduce them.