Fire in Ourense. /
Collecting all organic waste from the mountains could reduce 60% of the forest area burned
If Spain took more advantage of biomass (that is, waste of natural origin that is produced, among others, in mountains and forests) it could prevent between two and four million hectares from being fed by forest fires.
This is one of the conclusions of the Spanish Institute of Engineering, which also calculates that for every million cubic meters of biomass used, a thousand direct jobs could be generated in rural areas. Something that, in addition, would allow the so-called emptied Spain to have a new source of wealth and fight against climate change, due to the neutral balance of carbon emissions.
It should be noted that, according to official data, last year there were 2,914 forest fires and 5,866 near misses in Spain, burning a total of 87,879.74 hectares.
Goals of the energy transition
The Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition approved just over a year ago sets as objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the Spanish economy as a whole by at least 23% compared to 1990 by 2030.
To do this, it is intended to achieve a penetration of renewable energy in the final energy consumption of at least 42% and that the electricity system has at least 74% generation from renewable energy.
To achieve this, the Association of Renewable Energy Companies (APPA Renovables) has always ensured that biomass, a 100% manageable renewable technology, will be a great ally to achieve the objectives.
In addition, Appa defends that biomass is a technology that has an excellent integration in the rural environment, which allows the valorization of agricultural and livestock by-products, creating employment and revitalizing rural areas.
A vision that is partly shared by the Spanish Institute of Engineering. Carlos del Álamo, forestry engineer and collaborator of the Engineering and Sustainable Development Committee of the Spanish Institute of Engineering (IIE), adds that, in addition to being able to meet these energy transition objectives, biomass can be a great ally in the fight against forest fires.
“The real key to preventing and monitoring fires is in the control of fuel and the use of forest biomass as renewable energy”, he assures, adding that, by taking advantage of these natural residues, it is possible to “make the forest profitable”, which, in In his opinion, “it is the best way to guarantee its sustainable management”.
According to his calculations, taking advantage of forest biomass could reduce the area burned by 60%, so “in these times of energy uncertainty, supporting this energy should be an obligation,” he stresses.
what is biomass
Biomass is, according to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, as the biodegradable part of products, residues and waste of biological origin from agricultural activities (including substances of plant origin) and of animal origin, from forestry and related industries, including fishing and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable fraction of waste, including industrial and municipal waste of biological origin.
That is, all those organic materials that, considered as waste, can be used to obtain energy. For this, techniques such as combustion, anaerobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis can be used.
wasted growth
According to the calculations of
Engineering Institute of Spain, the forests in our country grow at a rate of 46 million cubic meters a year. However, of that amount only 19 million are used. For example, bushland provides approximately 60 million tonnes of firewood per year, but only half goes to it (while in Europe the average is 66%).
In fact, and according to IDAE (Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving), firewood, chips, pellets, olive stones and fruit shells are the main fuels that are extracted from biomass, the first of them being the least processed.
Therefore, if all this amount that is not used for anything at the moment could be used, it would be capable of supplying 2,500 MW of electricity and generating nearly 30,000 jobs. Something that, according to the entity, “makes this renewable the perfect investment.”
In addition, the College of Forestry Engineers ensures that, if the VAT on biomass were reduced from 21 to 10%, profitability and a saving of 8% in the final cost would be facilitated, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7% greenhouse.
Meanwhile, the IDAE maintains open some aid for self-consumption, storage and thermal installations with renewables, including biomass among the items that can access these subsidies.
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