The impacts of cofiring coal with biomass residues could substantially contribute to reduction in CO₂ emissions from the power generation sector.  Here we use the Kyoto protocol as a figure of merit in evaluating this contribution and come to the following two conclusions:

Cofiring has a larger potential contribution to CO₂ reduction than most other options for the power sector. Even at the maximum conceivable cofiring rate, cofiring only resolves a portion of the problem.  Cofiring must be implemented with other approaches to provide a meaningful, long-term solution.