Do the non-co2 climate forcers offset the co2 benefit of biomass use for residential heating?

The climate relevance of non-CO2 emission levels from small appliances burning wood and pellet in the residential sector has been assessed using data for the combustion of woody biomasses and global warming potential (GWP) taken from the literature, considering a short reference period (20-years) where very strong emission reductions should be implemented to stay within the Paris Agreement targets. CO2equivalent emissions from CH4, N2O and short-lived gases and aerosols (CO, NOx, NMVOC, black carbon and organic carbon) emitted by small appliances in Lombardy is 1% of total CO2eq in the region (in a 20-year reference period), and offsets half of the CO2 uptake during the growth of the same amount of biomass burnt. Results show that the use of biomass in these appliances instead of natural gas does not have any benefits in terms of CO2 equivalent emissions reduction if 20 years is considered. Although from one side the uncertainties associated with GWP are large and EFs are based on a limited number of appliances and fuel types, other approach (i.e. dynamic life cycle) could lead to yet lower GHG benefits from biomass use that reinforce the conclusion of this work based on the role of non-CO2 forcers.