Climate impacts of wood bioenergy

Vattenfall, owned by the state of Sweden, currently releases twice the amount of CO2 as the whole country of Sweden.

The company aims to expand its investments in wood bioenergy significantly. At the point of combustion burning of biomass emits more CO2 than burning fossil fuels. Nevertheless forest biomass is often labelled as a sustainable energy source and claimed to be carbon neutral based on forest regrowth. This does not take into account that forest regrowth will take decades to centuries. In addition there is no guarantee of full regrowth of the cut forests.

Impacts on forests and biodiversity

Burning wood biomass for energy leads to species extinction and biodiversity loss which are endangering the stability of ecosystems worldwide.

Most of the wood burned by Vattenfall comes from Sweden which is subject to ongoing infringement proceedings by the EU Commission on the ground that “Sweden’s Natura 2000 network is insufficient both as regards habitat types and species under the Habitats Directive”. In addition, according to Sweden’s own reporting under the EU Habitats Directive, 14 out of 15 forest biotopes to be protected have been classified as “bad” or “inadequate”.

All of the wood currently burned in Germany by Vattenfall was sourced domestically. Also German forests are under pressure and suffer from loss of tree cover. Around half of Germany’s entire annual wood harvest is burned for energy, increasing the pressure on forests. 

In addition, Vattenfalls trades wood pellets from the Southeastern USA where wood is routinely sourced from coastal hardwood forests which form part of a Global Biodiversity Hotspot.

Wood biomass is associated with high rates of deforestation as well as monocultures of various crops. There is a growing body of evidence that shows the connection between deforestation and an increased risk for disease outbreaks and pandemics. For example, monocultures like eucalyptus plantations reduce biodiversity leaving species like rats and mosquitoes, which are more likely to spread dangerous pathogens, to thrive. This biodiversity decline results in a loss of natural disease regulation and poses a risk for human, animal and environmental health.

Nuclear power plant Forsmark had a serious accident in 2006. Shortly afterwords there was a series of accidents in the German plants Brunsbuettel and Kruemmel. After those accidents Vattenfall tried to conceal important facts and had a negative press because of the misinformation. Vattenfall is promoting nuclear power as an "important part of making electricity clean" despite all negative headlines they are producing with their plants.