Biomass – Burning lots of Wood

This is a view on the burning of wood for biomass. Is it a good or bad thing. Is it renewable or as bad as burning coal.

Here’s a 250 year old (minimum) tree. Its dead, but we can see the tree rings, one per year, I believe it was chopped down about 10 years back, so lets assume outer ring is 2010. It can be seen in Tunbridge Wells. I have added a few dates down to 1940, just after WW2 started.

My years aren’t that accurate, the rings are difficult to read from an image, but what I want to show is that they are fairly consistent.

The key thing is, a tree adds about 4mm a year. A tree with a radius of 4mm, ie about a year old, adding another 4mm adds very little in terms of carbon sequestration. A big old tree adding 4mm to a 1 meter radius! Well, I have added some figures below.  The math is very simple, we use the radiius of the tree. I am showing  a consistent growth of about 8mm width – it works with actual observation, I’m not making up these figures, see tree above!

Now, do a search for “how much co2 per cubic metre of wood “Swedish Wood” states:  “Through photosynthesis, a normal tree absorbs an average of 1 tonne carbon dioxide per cubic metre of growth, while at the same time producing and releasing the equivalent of 0.7 tonnes carbon dioxide.”  Its that 1 tonne that is important here as I am looking at stored CO2, not the process.

So, chop down a 1 tonne tree and burn it, there will be 1 tonne of CO2 released – yes, I know its not the same chemical process, and there is lots of water in each tonne of wood and its one carbon atom to 2 oxygen atoms, but the figures are very close !

NB. I’m also being generous with the early growth, however from about 5 years it works.

The key thing is. Chop down a 100 year old tree with a 20 meter trunk, the trunk alone weighs 10 tonnes.

Plant 10 trees to replace it, after 10 years they have a trunk height of say   5 meters  that weighs 25 kilos per tree, a total of 250 kilos

Those 10 trees might be 10 meters trunk height after 30 years, with a 50 kilo weight per meter, so we now have 5 tonnes of wood (plus lots of branches and leaves, but then it gets confusing, the same applies to the 100 year old tree) .

In one year the 100 year old, 20 meter heigh (trunk) tree added about 200 kilos to its weight, just short of the 10 times 10 year old trees weigh in total. Add the branches and almost certainly more!

Once the tree hits 200 years, it is taking a good 1/2 tonne of carbon out of the atmosphere every year.

Interestingly our climate emergency, and the time we have to work in is about 10 years !

Every tree chopped down is a nail in our coffins.

Compared with coal? A tree represents stored CO2 , its also extracting CO2.  Coal is also stored carbon from the atmosphere. It is insane to say its better to burn trees rather than coal.

I will be amending this as I can accumulate more facts / weights / tree rings.

years old	mm radius	trunk area in mm2	latest tree ring mm2	cubic meters per 1 meter trunk	cubic meters in latest tree ring
1	4	50.272	50.272	0.000050272	0.000050272
2	8	201.088	150.816	0.000201088	0.000150816
3	12	452.448	251.36	0.000452448	0.00025136
4	16	804.352	351.904	0.000804352	0.000351904
5	20	1256.8	452.448	0.0012568	0.000452448
6	24	1809.792	552.992	0.001809792	0.000552992
7	28	2463.328	653.536	0.002463328	0.000653536
8	32	3217.408	754.08	0.003217408	0.00075408
9	36	4072.032	854.624	0.004072032	0.000854624
10	40	5027.2	955.168	0.0050272	0.000955168
11	44	6082.912	1055.712	0.006082912	0.001055712
12	48	7239.168	1156.256	0.007239168	0.001156256
13	52	8495.968	1256.8	0.008495968	0.0012568
14	56	9853.312	1357.344	0.009853312	0.001357344
15	60	11311.2	1457.888	0.0113112	0.001457888
16	64	12869.632	1558.432	0.012869632	0.001558432
17	68	14528.608	1658.976	0.014528608	0.001658976
18	72	16288.128	1759.52	0.016288128	0.00175952
19	76	18148.192	1860.064	0.018148192	0.001860064
20	80	20108.8	1960.608	0.0201088	0.001960608
21	84	22169.952	2061.152	0.022169952	0.002061152
22	88	24331.648	2161.696	0.024331648	0.002161696
23	92	26593.888	2262.24	0.026593888	0.00226224
24	96	28956.672	2362.784	0.028956672	0.002362784
25	100	31420	2463.328	0.03142	0.002463328
26	104	33983.872	2563.872	0.033983872	0.002563872
27	108	36648.288	2664.416	0.036648288	0.002664416
28	112	39413.248	2764.96	0.039413248	0.00276496
29	116	42278.752	2865.504	0.042278752	0.002865504
30	120	45244.8	2966.048	0.0452448	0.002966048
31	124	48311.392	3066.592	0.048311392	0.003066592
32	128	51478.528	3167.136	0.051478528	0.003167136
33	132	54746.208	3267.68	0.054746208	0.00326768
34	136	58114.432	3368.224	0.058114432	0.003368224
35	140	61583.2	3468.768	0.0615832	0.003468768
36	144	65152.512	3569.312	0.065152512	0.003569312
37	148	68822.368	3669.856	0.068822368	0.003669856
38	152	72592.768	3770.4	0.072592768	0.0037704
39	156	76463.712	3870.944	0.076463712	0.003870944
40	160	80435.2	3971.488	0.0804352	0.003971488
41	164	84507.232	4072.032	0.084507232	0.004072032
42	168	88679.808	4172.576	0.088679808	0.004172576
43	172	92952.928	4273.12	0.092952928	0.00427312
44	176	97326.592	4373.664	0.097326592	0.004373664
45	180	101800.8	4474.208	0.1018008	0.004474208
46	184	106375.552	4574.752	0.106375552	0.004574752
47	188	111050.848	4675.296	0.111050848	0.004675296
48	192	115826.688	4775.84	0.115826688	0.00477584
49	196	120703.072	4876.384	0.120703072	0.004876384
50	200	125680	4976.928	0.12568	0.004976928
51	204	130757.472	5077.472	0.130757472	0.005077472
52	208	135935.488	5178.016	0.135935488	0.005178016
53	212	141214.048	5278.56	0.141214048	0.00527856
54	216	146593.152	5379.104	0.146593152	0.005379104
55	220	152072.8	5479.648	0.1520728	0.005479648
56	224	157652.992	5580.192	0.157652992	0.005580192
57	228	163333.728	5680.736	0.163333728	0.005680736
58	232	169115.008	5781.28	0.169115008	0.00578128
59	236	174996.832	5881.824	0.174996832	0.005881824
60	240	180979.2	5982.368	0.1809792	0.005982368
61	244	187062.112	6082.912	0.187062112	0.006082912
62	248	193245.568	6183.456	0.193245568	0.006183456
63	252	199529.568	6284	0.199529568	0.006284
64	256	205914.112	6384.544	0.205914112	0.006384544
65	260	212399.2	6485.088	0.2123992	0.006485088
66	264	218984.832	6585.632	0.218984832	0.006585632
67	268	225671.008	6686.176	0.225671008	0.006686176
68	272	232457.728	6786.72	0.232457728	0.00678672
69	276	239344.992	6887.264	0.239344992	0.006887264
70	280	246332.8	6987.808	0.2463328	0.006987808
71	284	253421.152	7088.352	0.253421152	0.007088352
72	288	260610.048	7188.896	0.260610048	0.007188896
73	292	267899.488	7289.44	0.267899488	0.00728944
74	296	275289.472	7389.984	0.275289472	0.007389984
75	300	282780	7490.528	0.28278	0.007490528
76	304	290371.072	7591.072	0.290371072	0.007591072
77	308	298062.688	7691.616	0.298062688	0.007691616
78	312	305854.848	7792.16	0.305854848	0.00779216
79	316	313747.552	7892.704	0.313747552	0.007892704
80	320	321740.8	7993.248	0.3217408	0.007993248
81	324	329834.592	8093.792	0.329834592	0.008093792
82	328	338028.928	8194.336	0.338028928	0.008194336
83	332	346323.808	8294.88	0.346323808	0.00829488
84	336	354719.232	8395.424	0.354719232	0.008395424
85	340	363215.2	8495.968	0.3632152	0.008495968
86	344	371811.712	8596.512	0.371811712	0.008596512
87	348	380508.768	8697.056	0.380508768	0.008697056
88	352	389306.368	8797.6	0.389306368	0.0087976
89	356	398204.512	8898.144	0.398204512	0.008898144
90	360	407203.2	8998.688	0.4072032	0.008998688
91	364	416302.432	9099.232	0.416302432	0.009099232
92	368	425502.208	9199.776	0.425502208	0.009199776
93	372	434802.528	9300.32	0.434802528	0.00930032
94	376	444203.392	9400.864	0.444203392	0.009400864
95	380	453704.8	9501.408	0.4537048	0.009501408
96	384	463306.752	9601.952	0.463306752	0.009601952
97	388	473009.248	9702.496	0.473009248	0.009702496
98	392	482812.288	9803.04	0.482812288	0.00980304
99	396	492715.872	9903.584	0.492715872	0.009903584
100	400	502720	10004.128	0.50272	0.010004128
101	404	512824.672	10104.672	0.512824672	0.010104672
102	408	523029.888	10205.216	0.523029888	0.010205216
103	412	533335.648	10305.76	0.533335648	0.01030576
104	416	543741.952	10406.304	0.543741952	0.010406304
105	420	554248.8	10506.848	0.5542488	0.010506848
106	424	564856.192	10607.392	0.564856192	0.010607392
107	428	575564.128	10707.936	0.575564128	0.010707936
108	432	586372.608	10808.48	0.586372608	0.01080848
109	436	597281.632	10909.024	0.597281632	0.010909024
110	440	608291.2	11009.568	0.6082912	0.011009568
111	444	619401.312	11110.112	0.619401312	0.011110112
112	448	630611.968	11210.656	0.630611968	0.011210656
113	452	641923.168	11311.2	0.641923168	0.0113112
114	456	653334.912	11411.744	0.653334912	0.011411744
115	460	664847.2	11512.288	0.6648472	0.011512288
116	464	676460.032	11612.832	0.676460032	0.011612832
117	468	688173.408	11713.376	0.688173408	0.011713376
118	472	699987.328	11813.92	0.699987328	0.01181392
119	476	711901.792	11914.464	0.711901792	0.011914464
120	480	723916.8	12015.008	0.7239168	0.012015008
121	484	736032.352	12115.552	0.736032352	0.012115552
122	488	748248.448	12216.096	0.748248448	0.012216096
123	492	760565.088	12316.64	0.760565088	0.01231664
124	496	772982.272	12417.184	0.772982272	0.012417184
125	500	785500	12517.728	0.7855	0.012517728
126	504	798118.272	12618.272	0.798118272	0.012618272
127	508	810837.088	12718.816	0.810837088	0.012718816
128	512	823656.448	12819.36	0.823656448	0.01281936
129	516	836576.352	12919.904	0.836576352	0.012919904
130	520	849596.8	13020.448	0.8495968	0.013020448
131	524	862717.792	13120.992	0.862717792	0.013120992
132	528	875939.328	13221.536	0.875939328	0.013221536
133	532	889261.408	13322.08	0.889261408	0.01332208
134	536	902684.032	13422.624	0.902684032	0.013422624
135	540	916207.2	13523.168	0.9162072	0.013523168
136	544	929830.912	13623.712	0.929830912	0.013623712
137	548	943555.168	13724.256	0.943555168	0.013724256
138	552	957379.968	13824.8	0.957379968	0.0138248
139	556	971305.312	13925.344	0.971305312	0.013925344
140	560	985331.2	14025.888	0.9853312	0.014025888
141	564	999457.632	14126.432	0.999457632	0.014126432
142	568	1013684.608	14226.976	1.013684608	0.014226976
143	572	1028012.128	14327.52	1.028012128	0.01432752
144	576	1042440.192	14428.064	1.042440192	0.014428064
145	580	1056968.8	14528.608	1.0569688	0.014528608
146	584	1071597.952	14629.152	1.071597952	0.014629152
147	588	1086327.648	14729.696	1.086327648	0.014729696
148	592	1101157.888	14830.24	1.101157888	0.01483024
149	596	1116088.672	14930.784	1.116088672	0.014930784
150	600	1131120	15031.328	1.13112	0.015031328
151	604	1146251.872	15131.872	1.146251872	0.015131872
152	608	1161484.288	15232.416	1.161484288	0.015232416
153	612	1176817.248	15332.96	1.176817248	0.01533296
154	616	1192250.752	15433.504	1.192250752	0.015433504
155	620	1207784.8	15534.048	1.2077848	0.015534048
156	624	1223419.392	15634.592	1.223419392	0.015634592
157	628	1239154.528	15735.136	1.239154528	0.015735136
158	632	1254990.208	15835.68	1.254990208	0.01583568
159	636	1270926.432	15936.224	1.270926432	0.015936224
160	640	1286963.2	16036.768	1.2869632	0.016036768
161	644	1303100.512	16137.312	1.303100512	0.016137312
162	648	1319338.368	16237.856	1.319338368	0.016237856
163	652	1335676.768	16338.4	1.335676768	0.0163384
164	656	1352115.712	16438.944	1.352115712	0.016438944
165	660	1368655.2	16539.488	1.3686552	0.016539488
166	664	1385295.232	16640.032	1.385295232	0.016640032
167	668	1402035.808	16740.576	1.402035808	0.016740576
168	672	1418876.928	16841.12	1.418876928	0.01684112
169	676	1435818.592	16941.664	1.435818592	0.016941664
170	680	1452860.8	17042.208	1.4528608	0.017042208
171	684	1470003.552	17142.752	1.470003552	0.017142752
172	688	1487246.848	17243.296	1.487246848	0.017243296
173	692	1504590.688	17343.84	1.504590688	0.01734384
174	696	1522035.072	17444.384	1.522035072	0.017444384
175	700	1539580	17544.928	1.53958	0.017544928
176	704	1557225.472	17645.472	1.557225472	0.017645472
177	708	1574971.488	17746.016	1.574971488	0.017746016
178	712	1592818.048	17846.56	1.592818048	0.01784656
179	716	1610765.152	17947.104	1.610765152	0.017947104
180	720	1628812.8	18047.648	1.6288128	0.018047648
181	724	1646960.992	18148.192	1.646960992	0.018148192
182	728	1665209.728	18248.736	1.665209728	0.018248736
183	732	1683559.008	18349.28	1.683559008	0.01834928
184	736	1702008.832	18449.824	1.702008832	0.018449824
185	740	1720559.2	18550.368	1.7205592	0.018550368
186	744	1739210.112	18650.912	1.739210112	0.018650912
187	748	1757961.568	18751.456	1.757961568	0.018751456
188	752	1776813.568	18852	1.776813568	0.018852
189	756	1795766.112	18952.544	1.795766112	0.018952544
190	760	1814819.2	19053.088	1.8148192	0.019053088
191	764	1833972.832	19153.632	1.833972832	0.019153632
192	768	1853227.008	19254.176	1.853227008	0.019254176
193	772	1872581.728	19354.72	1.872581728	0.01935472
194	776	1892036.992	19455.264	1.892036992	0.019455264
195	780	1911592.8	19555.808	1.9115928	0.019555808
196	784	1931249.152	19656.352	1.931249152	0.019656352
197	788	1951006.048	19756.896	1.951006048	0.019756896
198	792	1970863.488	19857.44	1.970863488	0.01985744
199	796	1990821.472	19957.984	1.990821472	0.019957984
200	800	2010880	20058.528	2.01088	0.020058528
201	804	2031039.072	20159.072	2.031039072	0.020159072
202	808	2051298.688	20259.616	2.051298688	0.020259616
203	812	2071658.848	20360.16	2.071658848	0.02036016
204	816	2092119.552	20460.704	2.092119552	0.020460704
205	820	2112680.8	20561.248	2.1126808	0.020561248
206	824	2133342.592	20661.792	2.133342592	0.020661792
207	828	2154104.928	20762.336	2.154104928	0.020762336
208	832	2174967.808	20862.88	2.174967808	0.02086288
209	836	2195931.232	20963.424	2.195931232	0.020963424
210	840	2216995.2	21063.968	2.2169952	0.021063968
211	844	2238159.712	21164.512	2.238159712	0.021164512
212	848	2259424.768	21265.056	2.259424768	0.021265056
213	852	2280790.368	21365.6	2.280790368	0.0213656
214	856	2302256.512	21466.144	2.302256512	0.021466144
215	860	2323823.2	21566.688	2.3238232	0.021566688
216	864	2345490.432	21667.232	2.345490432	0.021667232
217	868	2367258.208	21767.776	2.367258208	0.021767776
218	872	2389126.528	21868.32	2.389126528	0.02186832
219	876	2411095.392	21968.864	2.411095392	0.021968864
220	880	2433164.8	22069.408	2.4331648	0.022069408
221	884	2455334.752	22169.952	2.455334752	0.022169952
222	888	2477605.248	22270.496	2.477605248	0.022270496
223	892	2499976.288	22371.04	2.499976288	0.02237104
224	896	2522447.872	22471.584	2.522447872	0.022471584
225	900	2545020	22572.128	2.54502	0.022572128
226	904	2567692.672	22672.672	2.567692672	0.022672672
227	908	2590465.888	22773.216	2.590465888	0.022773216
228	912	2613339.648	22873.76	2.613339648	0.02287376
229	916	2636313.952	22974.304	2.636313952	0.022974304
230	920	2659388.8	23074.848	2.6593888	0.023074848
231	924	2682564.192	23175.392	2.682564192	0.023175392
232	928	2705840.128	23275.936	2.705840128	0.023275936
233	932	2729216.608	23376.48	2.729216608	0.02337648
234	936	2752693.632	23477.024	2.752693632	0.023477024
235	940	2776271.2	23577.568	2.7762712	0.023577568
236	944	2799949.312	23678.112	2.799949312	0.023678112
237	948	2823727.968	23778.656	2.823727968	0.023778656
238	952	2847607.168	23879.2	2.847607168	0.0238792
239	956	2871586.912	23979.744	2.871586912	0.023979744
240	960	2895667.2	24080.288	2.8956672	0.024080288
241	964	2919848.032	24180.832	2.919848032	0.024180832
242	968	2944129.408	24281.376	2.944129408	0.024281376
243	972	2968511.328	24381.92	2.968511328	0.02438192
244	976	2992993.792	24482.464	2.992993792	0.024482464
245	980	3017576.8	24583.008	3.0175768	0.024583008
246	984	3042260.352	24683.552	3.042260352	0.024683552
247	988	3067044.448	24784.096	3.067044448	0.024784096
248	992	3091929.088	24884.64	3.091929088	0.02488464
249	996	3116914.272	24985.184	3.116914272	0.024985184

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