Smarter use of wood can help cool the planet - study
A new study, led by researchers at the University of Galway, has looked at an effective way to use wood to reduce global warming.
The study examined the combination of using low-value wood for manufacturing before it is converted into fuel for clean energy generation with carbon capture and storage once those products reach the end of their life.
The researchers found that this strategy of combining forestry with the “cascading” use of wood products can play a critical role in achieving climate neutrality targets.
The research also found that this technique provides more resilient and long-term climate benefits than either directly burning harvested wood for energy or leaving forests unharvested.
The study was first published in Nature’s Communications Earth & Environment.
Dr. George Bishop, lead scientist on the study, said: "National climate neutrality targets cannot be met without large-scale carbon dioxide removal.
“Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) provides one of the few scalable ways to deliver permanent carbon removal while also producing renewable energy.
“Our research shows that cascading wood use into Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage is a robust climate change mitigation option that consistently delivers long-term temperature reduction.”
Potential solution
According to the researchers, the study is particularly significant for countries in the EU, including Ireland, which have legally binding commitments to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
Climate neutrality means that any greenhouse gases released must either be eliminated or balanced by an equal amount removed from the atmosphere.
One of the biggest challenges in achieving these commitments comes from sectors where deep emissions cuts are technically difficult and costly, such as agriculture.
BECCS has been identified as a potential solution to this challenge.
As trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass.When forests are harvested, some wood becomes low-value leftovers that are often burned for bioenergy, releasing the carbon back into the air.
According to the researchers, with BECCS, this CO2 can be captured and permanently stored deep underground – "effectively removing the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere forever".
"However, large-scale deployment of BECCS infrastructure is expected to take decades," the researchers said.
The research team suggested that rather than burning low-value wood immediately, these materials can first be used to manufacture products such as particleboard (also known as chipboard).
"This offers dual wins: It generates immediate climate benefits by replacing carbon-intensive materials like plastics, and 'buys time' for BECCS deployment," the researchers said.
"At the end of their service life, these wood products can still be used for bioenergy – but this time in a BECCS facility which has had time to be deployed.
"At the same time, sustainably managed forests regrow to replace harvested trees, continuing to draw carbon dioxide from the air, acting as a carbon vacuum."
The study suggests that this combined cycle creates a potential carbon removal pathway with a significant long-term cooling effect, supporting climate-neutrality goals in Ireland and globally.
‘Climate stabilisation’
Prof. David Styles, co-author and professor in agri-sustainability at the University of Galway, said: "The implication for policy is clear.
"To meet ambitious climate targets, governments must prioritise the development of permanent carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies and incentivise circular use of wood to prolong its lifespan as a carbon store.
“By integrating sustainable forest management with circular and cascading wood strategies and BECCS, the global community can ensure a more durable and resilient path towards climate stabilisation.”
Dr. James Gaffey, co-author and project lead at Munster Technological University (MTU), said: "The results of this study highlight the need for greater investment in carbon capture and storage infrastructure in parallel with cascading circular bioeconomy and renewable energy developments.
“The results are relevant for Ireland and for other EU member states and the approach will help them to meet their climate obligations and avoid future risks of penalties.”
The research also highlighted a comparison between active forest management and leaving forests unharvested.
While unharvested forests provide strong near-term cooling, their carbon sink strength diminishes as trees mature.
In addition, carbon stored in living forests is increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven disturbances such as wildfires, pests, and disease.
Dr. Bishop said: “If we transfer carbon from forests to geological stores via a cascade of multiple wood uses we enhance the longevity and resilience of carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere.
"Our sophisticated modelling shows that cascading wood use into Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage eventually surpasses the climate benefits of unharvested forests.”
The research was supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through the InformBio project.
It was a collaborative study involving experts from the University of Galway, MTU, and the International Energy Agency Bioenergy BECCUS Inter-task members from the Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; along with other leading institutions.
