Given below are two statements: One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labeled as Reason (R),
Assertion (A): Energy produced from biomass is considered 'carbon neutral'".
Reason (R): Biomass does not add CO₂ to the atmosphere.
In the light of the above statements, Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

The Assertion (A) is correct, but the Reason (R) is incorrect. Biomass energy is often considered "carbon neutral" because the amount of CO₂ released during biomass combustion is approximately equal to the amount of CO₂ absorbed by plants during their growth. This means that biomass essentially recycles atmospheric carbon rather than adding new CO₂, as fossil fuels do.
However, the Reason (R) is incorrect because, in reality, biomass does release CO₂ when burned. The carbon neutrality claim is based on the idea that this CO₂ was previously captured by the biomass during photosynthesis, balancing the carbon cycle. Thus, while biomass does emit CO₂, it is often classified as carbon neutral because it does not introduce additional carbon from ancient stores (like fossil fuels) into the atmosphere.
Information Booster · Biomass Energy: Biomass is derived from organic materials such as plants, wood, and agricultural waste. Since these materials absorb CO₂ while growing, using them as fuel is seen as a closed-loop cycle where the emitted CO₂ is offset by the absorbed CO₂. This is why biomass is classified as renewable and carbon neutral, assuming sustainable harvesting and regrowth.