The Controversy Surrounding Biomass Energy Technology
A new study has delved into the intense debate surrounding a controversial energy technology known as Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). This technology has been touted as &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;critical to combating climate change&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; by its supporters, while its critics dismiss it as &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;worse than coal&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221;. The battle lines are drawn, and the public debate seems far from reaching a consensus.
BECCS plays a significant role in the UK government&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8217;s plan to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. However, there is a startling lack of public awareness regarding this technology, which has divided scientists, politicians, and media outlets alike.
The process of BECCS involves burning plants and trees to generate energy while capturing the resulting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and storing them underground. Essentially, it is a method of producing energy while reducing CO2 emissions, making it an attractive prospect for those concerned about climate change.
To shed light on the public perception of BECCS, researchers from the University of Southampton conducted an analysis of 166 newspaper articles. The aim was to identify the key storylines surrounding this energy technology and gain insights into whether it is likely to gain acceptance in the UK and beyond.
&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Given the limited understanding of BECCS by the public, the media plays a pivotal role in shaping debates and forming opinions about this technology,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; says Caspar Donnison, Research Fellow in Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton and lead author of the research.
The study, published in Energy Research &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-038; Social Science, identified eight primary storylines that dominated the coverage of BECCS. The Pro-BECCS camp included narratives such as &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Necessary mitigation tool,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Keeping the lights on,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Anchor for transition,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; and &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Revolutionary technology.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; On the other hand, the Anti-BECCS side highlighted storylines such as &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Worse than coal,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Environmental disaster,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;No silver bullet,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; and &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Distraction.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221;
One of the most prevalent storylines in the articles analyzed was the &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Necessary mitigation tool.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; This was cited in over half of the national and regional newspapers. Drax Group, a UK energy company, has plans to operate the largest BECCS facility in the world at its power station in Yorkshire. Drax CEO Will Gardiner emphasized this storyline more than any other individual. Additionally, it received recognition from government spokespersons, the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC), Microsoft, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Another noteworthy storyline that gained traction was &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Keeping the lights on.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; This narrative became more prominent following Russia&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8217;s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the importance of energy security.
Conversely, the Anti-BECCS side emphasized concerns such as &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Worse than coal&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; and &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Environmental disaster.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; These stories highlighted the potential negative impacts of BECCS on the environment and argued that it falls short of being a sustainable solution.
Interestingly, the study also revealed that different regions had their own unique storylines. In Yorkshire&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8217;s local media, there was a focus on opportunities, including &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Anchor for transition&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; and &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;Revolutionary technology.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221; Local Members of Parliament cited these storylines in their efforts to alleviate the economic disparities between the North and South of England. Even Rishi Sunak MP, now the Prime Minister, described the Drax project as &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8220;transformative for the region&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8217;s economy.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8221;
This research highlights the significant role that media coverage plays in shaping public understanding and acceptance of new technologies such as BECCS. The fracking debate serves as a cautionary tale, where competing storylines influenced the acceptance of the technology and its integration into the UK&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8217;s energy mix.
Moving forward, it is essential for the public to have access to accurate and comprehensive information about BECCS to make informed decisions about its merits and drawbacks. Both the proponents and critics of BECCS should engage in open and transparent discussions to find common ground and develop a better understanding of this technology&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWt1eFNtRlpMcGd3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrTjJwRVFuTTNMME5wTWpkbVZFMTRiVkpxV2pOclp6MDk-8217;s potential role in combating climate change.
