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Biomass offers the greatest potential for job creation among all the renewable technologies. A switch from traditional food crop production to non-food biomass production can potentially help reduce the decline of jobs in agricultural regions. It is estimated that Europe-wide, over 300,000 jobs could be created from biomass fuel production by 2020 (source: EC Altener study).
Extra revenue from selling energy, fertiliser and fibre products can have a positive effect on rural development.
Anaerobic digestion treatment stabilises slurries, significantly reducing odours, improving working conditions and lessening nuisance for neighbours.
A DTI-commissioned survey of the public attitude to renewable energy showed that few participants had heard of the term biomass. Even those who lived near to biomass plants were unfamiliar with it. Participants found it difficult to distinguish between biomass and incineration, and did not see biomass as environmentally friendly. There was also confusion as to whether biomass plants could burn household waste and concern that burning animal waste would be odorous. Participants were concerned about lorries bringing material to the plant, and about emissions and odours from biomass plants themselves.
The use of biomass has largely positive implications for the environment due to its carbon-neutral status. However, there are also issues, described below, which need to be carefully considered to avoid any potentially negative impacts.
Although woody biomass such as forest products, short-rotation coppice, untreated wood products, straw and energy crops require production, handling and processing, these resources are generally considered to be sustainable, especially when sourced within the UK.
The transportation of materials to the plants by lorry can cause some pollution and disruption, although this can be minimised by scheduling freight transport at less disruptive times of day.
The introduction of unfamiliar crops and the potential for mono-cultural planting schemes, as well as the subsequent effects on the local ecosystem, need to be considered.
Anaerobic digestion schemes capture gases such as methane for use as a fuel which otherwise, under current disposal practice, would be released into the atmosphere.
A properly-managed anaerobic digestion scheme contains nutrients found in animal slurries and food residues that can otherwise leach out in high concentrations and pollute soil and water courses. The by-products arising from anaerobic digesters have value as a fertiliser and soil improver. Incombustible materials such as ash created under incineration schemes also have to be removed. However, ash arising from the combustion of wood fuels can also have value as a fertiliser.
Combustion chambers used for the combustion of biomass need to be well managed to ensure that by-products such as particulates and polyaromatic hydrocarbons cannot escape to the atmosphere.
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