A new report highlights concerns over Poland’s growing reliance on wood biomass for energy, threatening both the economy and the environment.
Rising biomass consumption
Twenty years ago, burning wood biomass was nearly nonexistent in Poland’s energy sector. Today, over 5 million cubic meters are burned annually in professional energy production, with nearly as much used in industry—accounting for more than a fifth of all wood harvested in Polish forests. Much of this comes from byproducts like sawdust and wood shavings, but also raw timber.
Regulatory incentives
The surge in biomass use is driven by regulations, including EU policies, which classify biomass as a “zero-emission” fuel. Companies receive subsidies for burning it (green certificates) and avoid carbon emission costs. Essentially, burning wood is financially rewarding.
Environmental concerns
However, Augustyn Mikos of the NGO Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot argues that industrial-scale wood burning is only “zero-emission” on paper. In reality, burning wood releases more CO2 than coal (since wood is less energy-dense, requiring more to produce the same energy). Reabsorbing that CO2 by growing new trees takes decades.
Threats to industry and climate
Despite this, Poland’s National Energy and Climate Plan (KPEiK) includes a scenario where biomass use in energy will significantly increase. Mikos warns this harms both the climate and the economy, as rising demand for wood threatens the competitiveness of Poland’s wood industry.
Competition for wood resources
Mikos notes that not only environmental groups but also the timber industry and scientific institutions oppose increased wood burning. While wood harvesting has risen over the past 20 years, further growth is unlikely, especially with climate change potentially damaging forests. There are also limited prospects for increased agricultural biomass waste.
Rising costs and environmental pressure
If both industry (for furniture and paper) and energy sectors compete for the same wood, supply may shrink and prices rise. This worries both the timber industry and environmentalists, as increased logging harms forests, and using wood for durable goods is far better for emissions than burning it.
Government plans for biomass expansion
The government’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan outlines two scenarios. The baseline scenario predicts an 86% increase in biomass use by 2040, while the more ambitious scenario sees a temporary rise followed by a decline. However, the new Energy Minister, Miłosz Motyka, favors the baseline scenario and supports expanding biomass use in energy and heating.
Risk of import dependency
Both the NGO report and the government acknowledge that increased biomass use will require more imports. Mikos estimates that Poland could spend 50 billion złoty on biomass imports between 2030 and 2040, primarily from North or South America or Asia. This poses economic and environmental risks, as imported wood may come from deforested areas, including tropical forests.
Limited government action
After a year of discussions, the government issued a regulation defining “energy wood,” restricting its use in professional energy production (excluding home heating). However, this falls short of the ruling coalition’s promised ban on burning wood in power plants. The timber industry also criticizes the policy, as byproducts like sawdust could be used for products like plywood instead.
Need for a clear exit strategy
Mikos emphasizes the lack of a concrete plan to phase out wood burning in energy production, calling for a detailed roadmap to transition away from this practice.
