What place for the biomass as a source of energy in a carbon-neutral France?

Since climate change forces us to reduce or even eventually stop the consumption of fossil fuels, all branches of the economy (in particular energy) are hoping to secure their future production chain with a supply of renewable raw materials coming from the biomass. However the biomass does not have an unlimited yield. How can it help satisfy energy needs? The answer, in part, is drawn from the recently released study ZEN 2050 by the association 'Entreprises pour l'Environnement'. To explore the feasibility of carbon neutrality in France by 2050, this study balances the absorption by carbon sinks (from 60 to 100 Mt of CO₂ equivalents) with a stiff reduction in emissions (from 480 to 100 Mt of CO₂ equivalents). The biomass will play a key role in the energy system, but several points of rivalry and synergy between the uses and services related to it exist: the food supply for people and animals, biodiversity, the capture of CO₂, soil amelioration, new materials... For instance, enlarging the capacity of carbon sinks implies expanding woodlands, limiting or even stopping the compacting of the soil due to human activities, and managing farmlands and farming practices so as to increase the carbon contained in the soil. Furthermore, soil management could significantly increase the quantity of the biomass available for energy purposes, a quantity that currently limits the supply of energy. In conclusion, the study advises public authorities to set up a new governance for the use of the soil, land and biomass that takes into account various uses and services. (author)