Bio-energy in the black

© The Ecological Society of America www.frontiersinecology.org T energy demands of modern societies are steadily increasing. Today, much of this demand is satisfied by fossil fuels, such as gas, oil, and coal, energy resources that are not renewable, and which will eventually be exhausted. The first glimpse of the energy crisis to come has been the price increases at the gas station. Additional concerns include the dependence on regionally concentrated supplies and related international conflicts, and the emission of greenhouse gases associated with the use of fossil fuels (IPCC 2001). There is ample evidence to show that the Earth is warming due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, with climatic consequences including desertification, a rise in ocean levels, and increased numbers of hurricanes (IPCC 2001). In addition to urgently needed energy conservation, alternative forms of energy are required to decrease dependence on fossil fuel reserves and to avoid or decrease CO2 emissions. Wind and solar energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, and bio-energy can all help society to reach these goals (Turner 1999). However, none of these technologies will be able to reverse climate change. A variant of bio-energy may not only be carbon-neutral, but carbon-negative. Use of this type of energy would not only avoid contributing to climate change, but may actually draw CO2 from the atmosphere, thereby reducing global warming. Using pyrolysis in combination with a land application of a biochar residue, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy, are not alternatives to one another (Turner 1999), but may become a joint strategy.