Japan and South Korea heavily invest in woody biomass as a renewable energy source, but a recent report raises serious concerns about its long-term impact.

The Global Energy Monitor (GEM) highlights issues with emissions, deforestation, and financial inefficiencies that question the sustainability of this energy choice.

Biomass capacity in Japan and South Korea has surged in the last decade. Japan’s capacity is projected to reach 3.8 gigawatts (GW) by 2026, while South Korea’s will reach 1.46 GW.

South Korea alone has seen a staggering 385% increase in biomass power since 2015.

Despite its green label, woody biomass is far from carbon neutral. Due to its lower energy density, burning wood produces 30% more CO2 than coal.

Emissions from logging, processing, and transportation further inflate its carbon footprint, making it a poor solution for reducing emissions quickly.

Adding to the concern is the carbon debt created by biomass combustion, which could take 44 to 104 years to repay. This undermines claims that biomass is a short-term fix for climate goals, particularly for nations aiming to reduce emissions in the next few decades.

Generous subsidies in both countries have driven this growth—Japan’s Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) program locked in 20 years of support for 38 biomass projects.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) have funnelled $3.7 billion into biomass since 2015, prioritizing it over cleaner options like wind and solar.

Critics argue that these subsidies are propping up a polluting technology. Resources meant for renewable energy are being diverted from wind and solar, technologies that are both more scalable and environmentally sound.

The environmental costs extend beyond emissions.

Rising demand for wood pellets drives deforestation in countries like Canada, the U.S., and Vietnam. This not only harms ecosystems but raises ethical concerns about exporting environmental damage.

Safety issues are also mounting. Japan has seen at least 12 biomass plant fires in the past five years, attributed to poor-quality fuel. Workers handling wood chips face exposure to harmful fungi and bacteria, adding to health risks.

Both countries also use biomass to co-fire with coal, further complicating their energy transition.

Japan and South Korea have 16.7 GW of co-firing capacity, accounting for 17.4% of their total operating energy. Critics warn this could prolong the life of coal plants rather than phase them out.

While South Korea has set a 2050 coal phaseout target, biomass co-firing undermines progress.

Japan, without a coal phaseout date, continues to approve new biomass projects and plans to add 1.34 GW of capacity soon.

This reliance on biomass is delaying the growth of truly renewable energy. Japan has already exceeded its 2030 biomass target of 5% but at the expense of cleaner technologies.

South Korea risks falling short of its 2030 renewable energy goals due to its biomass dependency.

Wind and solar are clear alternatives. They are cheaper, safer, and genuinely renewable. South Korea alone needs 39.9 GW of renewable energy to meet its 2030 targets, a goal that could be achieved by reallocating biomass subsidies.