When the cold really appears, as in the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the domestic economies, of the companies and at the country level, suffer. The invoices of the light and the heating are triggered and we begin to overwhelm us what can we do? My answer is clear: less fossil fuels and more biomass. And I add the message that many of us know and others, many must understand: biomass is an efficient fuel, more sustainable, cleaner and also cheaper than fossil fuels. In addition, enhancing its use creates employment and wealth in the country and prevents the outflow of foreign currency. Do you need more arguments? Obviously, the rise in energy prices is not a joy, but there is a solution and we must ask for it: more renewable energies.
Bioenergy and electricity
The development of electricity with renewable energies should not stop; we must look for a fair remuneration, because it is perfectly demonstrated that these technologies reduce prices and provide us with energy "sovereignty". As for biomass, it has the advantage of being manageable; argument used by the Ministry to maintain coal, nuclear and gas-cycle power plants because of their capacity to stabilize supply and meet consumption levels. But they forget that biomass is capable of operating with solvency each and every one of the hours of the year fulfilling the same role as those. Biomass can replace a large amount of MWe currently generated by coal and other polluting technologies, since the enormous amount of biomass available to the country allows it. Therefore, I believe necessary legislation that supports the implementation of all MWe that the sector is able to launch with guarantees, which are many, and thus move towards de-carbonization of the country and greater energy sovereignty, creating employment in the rural areas.
Bioenergy and thermal uses
The competitiveness of the thermal sector with biomass is increasing. If we add it to the intense cold and the increases in gas and oil prices that accompany us this season, a good perspective for the coming months is undoubtedly presented. I am also convinced that the industry and the tertiary sector will increasingly come closer to thermal biomass, since its appeal lies not only in the economic savings it guarantees, but also in the improvement of the corporate image in relation to the sustainability that companies they get.
Clarify the shadows
But we must not forget the shadows: lately we have seen how neighbors of some cities oppose the installation of distributed heat power plants with biomass. Why does it happen and what can we do to prevent it? In many cases, the problem is not the technology itself, but the location of the plant, when it is or is perceived to be too close to population centers or sensitive buildings such as schools, etc. The advantages of a district heating are clear: pollution in the cities is reduced, as hundreds of diesel, coal and gas hips chimneys are removed and replaced by a single biomass installation, more modern, efficient and better controlled. But, as we all know, it is very difficult to recover from "anti" campaigns, so I think we should avoid using something easy to modify, such as location, to attack biomass and create doubts about its benefits. We can not give opportunities to those who want to hinder the development of such advantageous facilities for citizens and the whole country, such as biomass heat networks.
Expobiomasa
And finally, it has been a great satisfaction to see how the sector flocked to Expobiomasa and the Congress now held every two years. I think this confirms that biomass has a relevant role to play in the national energy mix and that the sector is prepared to assume its responsibilities by providing smart solutions to replace fossil fuels. Let us continue working, then, with professionalism and seriousness and we will continue to grow and take up spaces in the complicated energy sector.
Editorial of the 38 number of the Spanish edition of Bioenergy International. Signed by Javier Díaz, President of the Spanish Association for Biomass Energy Valorization.
@JavierD71052
Source: www.bioenergyinternational.es