Beyond Fires: The Importance of Creating Global Synergies for Biomass

It's well known that the oceans are the world's largest CO2 sinks—this role isn't limited to the Amazon. Ocean phytoplankton are responsible for capturing two-thirds of Earth's CO2. And did you know that a small "weed" that feeds on radiation was discovered in Chernobyl? It is precisely in this context that biomass emerges as a fundamental solution, not only for achieving carbon neutrality but also for innovating in areas such as healthcare, cosmetics, and food.

It is urgent that the government, local authorities, businesses, universities, and communities strengthen cooperation to jointly explore the full potential of biomass in Portugal, which goes beyond the important role that biomass plants play in preventing forest fires.

Biomass plants are a powerful ally in preventing wildfires, which last year were responsible for burning over a thousand square kilometers of our country. But their benefits go beyond that.

This clean energy source is a powerful and inevitable tool for achieving carbon neutrality goals by 2050, and it's no coincidence that biomass is the main energy source in Portugal and will continue to grow. It's the fastest and most cost-effective way to decarbonize.

Biomass plants could, in the future, become biorefineries, where biomass is valorized in various ways before being burned to produce energy. For example, the production of biodiesel or essential oils. This vision and strategy could transform the country's interior into an industrial engine that enhances forests and surrounding regions.

That's why it's crucial not only to move forward quickly with tenders for new biomass projects, but also to create strong synergies between government, local authorities, businesses, universities, and communities to strengthen the biomass value chain.

These synergies would involve more partnerships between private companies in the sector, universities, and local authorities, for example, to share costs, share risks, and promote innovation, or even greater involvement of local communities, highlighting the benefits of biomass and its potential to create jobs and wealth, particularly in rural areas that depend heavily on agriculture and forestry.

Companies in the sector can also strengthen their cooperation, particularly in developing more efficient technologies and practices for the production and use of biomass, as well as exerting their influence on public authorities to accelerate the approval of more biomass projects, which would bring Portugal closer to its potential for producing clean, value-added energy.

In this context of greater synergies, it is also possible to develop actions to increase the training of farmers and rural workers, in order to increase their understanding of the potential and benefits of biomass.

At the government level, in addition to the urgent need to approve new tenders, the development of policies and incentives that promote greater use of biomass should be highlighted, such as access to subsidies or tax benefits that favor the production and use of energy from this renewable source.

This is what many of us, particularly at the Funcional Biomass Plant, are already doing. We're building and consolidating a circular economy where the synergies of the various stakeholders converge to enhance local resources, prevent fires, innovate technologically, boost rural economies, create more jobs, reduce energy costs, and achieve carbon neutrality. Now, we need to more actively involve the remaining actors in this value chain.

General Director of CBN (Northern Biomass Plants)