Growing key biomethane crop on peat emits 3 times more CO2 than using natural gas.

A study conducted by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has found that growing crops like maize to produce biomethane on drained peat emits three times more carbon dioxide (CO2) than using natural gas. The researchers estimate that the area of UK peatland used for cultivating maize has tripled since 2015, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions. The study highlights the need to consider soil carbon losses from all bioenergy crops grown on drained peat worldwide to make better decisions regarding green energy. The researchers suggest that growing dedicated biomass crops on agricultural peatlands managed with higher water levels could be a promising method for mitigating climate change. [Extracted from the article]