Biomass Energy: A Sustainable Pathway to Energy Independence

This study seeks to evaluate the economic and technological feasibility of utilizing wood biomass as a renewable energy source within a European context. The evaluation was grounded in an examination of current research regarding wood biomass energy in countries that share comparable environmental and industrial contexts with Ireland. The study focuses on the economic and technical feasibility, which together define the feasibility of wood biomass as a source of energy for both industrial and domestic applications in Ireland. The analysis yields the following findings: First, the widespread use of biomass is limited in many countries, primarily due to concerns over its economic feasibility. Second, larger plant capacities are more economically feasible than smaller ones for harnessing biomass energy. Third, despite the abundance of biomass energy resources in various locations, technical and economic feasibility challenges hinder their utilization. The primary recommendation arising from this study is the need for further empirical research to improve the technical and economic feasibility of large-scale plant constructions, as this approach currently holds the greatest potential for optimizing the use of wood biomass energy resources.