Wood usage in construction and energy sparks climate debate in Germany

Research and environmental protests in Germany are highlighting the complex role of wood in climate mitigation. Studies conducted by researchers from Potsdam and Yale suggest that timber construction can act as a global carbon sink. A five-story residential building made of mass timber can store up to 186 kilograms of carbon per square meter in its structure, potentially replacing carbon-intensive materials like concrete and steel.

However, the environmental benefits of wood depend on forest health and replacement rates. In Germany, forests have seen a net loss of carbon between 2017 and 2022.

In Stade-Bützfleth, the company Hansekraft is facing protests from groups including ROBIN WOOD and Biofuelwatch regarding plans to build a waste wood power plant. The company aims to burn 500,000 tons of waste wood annually starting in 2031 to produce electricity and heat, claiming the process is climate-neutral. Protesters argue this constitutes greenwashing, asserting that wood combustion produces CO2 emissions comparable to coal and questioning the feasibility of carbon capture technologies.