Not a defender of them but they have specific plantations for growing the fuel just for this. So the idea is that it’s a closed loop. Carbon is captured from the air as the trees grow and then that very same carbon is burnt for energy generation. So no extra carbon is added to the atmosphere when you consider the whole cycle.
Compare with coal and gas where carbon is dug up from under the ground and added to the atmosphere and never removed again.
If grown as a crop I can see that. But taking from forests changes the forest permanently. I see your point, I guess I’m taking issue with what I associate with a renewable resource when talking about energy. That is is “green” and not bad for the environment.
Saying trees are carbon capures so its carbon neutral just seems crazy to me. Burning wood emits more carbon dioxide than coal for every unit of electricity produced.
The older the tree the more carbon it can store, which is in its wood. Mature as in 35-75 years. Cutting down mature trees out of forests and planting new ones isn’t carbon neutral. But I can see an argument for planting tree plots in already cleared land to get a system set up for rotations.
Sarcasm doesn’t come over well on the internet. You’re absolutely right that burning wood for power is stupid really the only thing we should be using for steam turbines is nuclear.
WTF?! They burn wood pellets? Seriously? How is that even vaguely a renewable resource?
Not a defender of them but they have specific plantations for growing the fuel just for this. So the idea is that it’s a closed loop. Carbon is captured from the air as the trees grow and then that very same carbon is burnt for energy generation. So no extra carbon is added to the atmosphere when you consider the whole cycle.
Compare with coal and gas where carbon is dug up from under the ground and added to the atmosphere and never removed again.
But at least it’s not ebil radioactive NUCULAR!!
/s
Tree grows. There for, can make more. There for, renewables. Big brain.
If grown as a crop I can see that. But taking from forests changes the forest permanently. I see your point, I guess I’m taking issue with what I associate with a renewable resource when talking about energy. That is is “green” and not bad for the environment.
Saying trees are carbon capures so its carbon neutral just seems crazy to me. Burning wood emits more carbon dioxide than coal for every unit of electricity produced. The older the tree the more carbon it can store, which is in its wood. Mature as in 35-75 years. Cutting down mature trees out of forests and planting new ones isn’t carbon neutral. But I can see an argument for planting tree plots in already cleared land to get a system set up for rotations.
Sarcasm doesn’t come over well on the internet. You’re absolutely right that burning wood for power is stupid really the only thing we should be using for steam turbines is nuclear.