Growing Key Biomethane Crop on Peat Emits 3 Times More CO2 Than Using Natural Gas

There has been a rapid expansion in growing crops such as maize to produce biomethane as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, to help reach Net Zero. But some of this increased cultivation, on drained peat, is emitting three times more carbon dioxide than it is avoiding by not using natural gas, according to a study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

The researchers also estimate the area of UK peatland used for cultivating maize which is then put through an anaerobic digester to produce biomethane has tripled since 2015. But they say the emissions resulting from draining these carbon-rich wetlands for agricultural use have been widely overlooked.

The analysis, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), focuses on maize and the UK but the study team points out that any cultivation on deep drained peat will result in large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Its significant findings highlight the need to consider soil carbon losses relating to all bioenergy crops grown on drained peat, anywhere in the world, in order to enable better decision-making over green energy.

Source: ENN