The use of biomass for the production of industrial heat contributes to the prevention of forest fires

The dramatic forest fires that are ravaging Spain in recent days have once again put the measures that help prevent them in the spotlight. One of them is the promotion of forest management of forests based on the production of biomass, whether to heat buildings or produce heat for industry. 

Experts from the Industry and Energy Forum point out that forest biomass is a very useful resource in fire prevention , since it prevents the accumulation of fast-burning elements in the forest, while obtaining a source of clean energy , contributing to the prevention of climate change, which, according to the United Nations, is, along with changes in land use, the fundamental reason for the increase in forest fires. As its latest study on this type of disaster predicts, they will increase by 30% by 2050 and by 50% by the end of the century.

In Catalonia, for example, more than 30 industries have already started the path of decarbonization using forest biomass , to improve their competitiveness and sustainability, as well as to contribute directly to the prevention of forest fires. In this sense, each hectare of forest managed generates approximately 100 tons of forest biomass.

In this way, if, for example, a paper industry consumes 6,000 tons of biomass per year for the production of industrial steam at 30% humidity, its biomass plant contributes to avoiding fires in 60 hectares of forest each year, according to data published by the Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia in its report 'Practical guide to incorporate social and environmental responsibility criteria in the use of biomass for the prevention of forest fires' .

The Cluster points out that the objective of this guide is to be a tool available to industries that use biomass as fuel to prove that it comes specifically from strategic areas for fire prevention , and, at the same time, assess business action against the climate change.

Context of crisis and energy transition
The Industry and Energy Forum highlights that this capacity to generate energy through existing resources in the territory itself is of special importance at a time of energy crisis like the current one, in which fuel exports from Third countries are at risk.

“In a context of energy transition in the industrial sector, this requires all available renewable energy sources to escape dependence on fossil fuels and be able to reduce their contribution to the generation of greenhouse gas emissions,” the Cluster explains. of Bioenergy of Catalonia. “ Within the set of renewable energies, biomass is the main energy we have , which not only helps us reduce emissions and provide greater economic competitiveness to the industry, but at the same time contributes to solving the problem of large fires. forestry”.