There are opportunities to use our forests as a cornerstone of the biobased revolution, a fundamental change in the way we produce and conserve energy and industrial products biomass technical advisory committee 2002. Biomass for energy production sustaining forests northern. A model for the sustainable energy use of forest biomass. Wwfs recommendations for sustainability criteria for forest. The basic concept then of using biomass as a renewable energy resource consists of the capture of solar energy and carbon from ambient co 2 in growing biomass, which is converted to other fuels biofuels, synfuels, hydrogen or is used directly as a 194 biomass for renewable energy and fuels. The 7 principles of a sustainable forest biomass policy proven to work working forests, such as those that supply biomass, also work for the environment. Doe bioenergy technologies office beto 2019 project peer. Sustainable utilisation of forest biomass for energy.
Environmental implications of increased biomass energy use. A synthesis with focus on the baltic and nordic region managing forest ecosystems on free shipping on qualified orders. For more than a century, forest product companies have created energy from. Bureaucratic bureaucracy to another type of renewable energy promotion.
Process redesign in development of forest biomass supply for. The use of biomass fuel provides an economic incentive to manage woodland which improves biodiversity. There is no region in the uk that cannot be a producer of biomass. Contents executive summary 1 1 sustainable bioenergy and transition to a greener economy 2 1. The biomass energy centre was asked to comment on this report, and the us paper on which it is based. Wwfs recommendations for sustainability criteria for forest based biomass used in electricity, heating and cooling in europe the renewable energy directive 200928ec envisages an increase in the use of biomass for the production of electricity, heating and cooling to the point that it is expected to account. There is, however, a potential competition for land and water between bioenergy and food crops. Chinas biomass energy resources the principal biomass resources in china are. In forest policies, the use of forest biomass for energy is usually supported as a sustainable form of energy that contributes to social welfare, local development, and forest economy. There is significant potential to expand biomass use by tapping the large volumes of unused residues and wastes. The impacts of woodbased energy markets tend to be lower for sawtimber industries, although markets for all products would be affected at the highest levels of projected demand. Pdf planning and sustainable use of forest biomass in.
The growth rate of biomass energy use is about 1 % each year 3. Goals of biomass for energy enhance national security benefit the environment balance trade deficits. Any biomass energy plan will most likely make use of a combination of several sources of biomass energy, which helps to both stabilize feedstock costs and improve surety of supply. Fund and conduct accurate and ongoing assessments of sustainable biomass energy supply 3. Technological barriers have to be overcame in order to promote the bioenergy development. Promoting renewable energy and forest stewardship environmental and energy study institute 2 executive summary woody biomass from forest management is a renewable, lowcarbon feedstock that can substitute for fossil fuels in the. Forest action plan for the period from 2006 to 2011was to promote the use of forest biomass for energy generation cec 2006c.
A key source of renewable energy renewable biomass energy produced from wood, the dominant biomass resource in washington, is made from slash leftover from sustainable timber harvesting operations. On a small scale there is most likely a net loss of energy as a lot of energy must be used for growing the plant. Synthesis of environmental outcomes of forest biomass production approaches. Soil carbon storage beneath recently established tree plantations in tennesee and south carolina, usa. Sustainable use of biomass for heating and transport fuel.
Another question is whether biomass for energy use can be produced in a sustainable manner given the current conventional agricultural production practices. In 2014, around 25% of finlands total energy consumption. By encouraging good forest management practices, working forests can help maintain and grow carbon stocks, protect soil and water quality and safeguard biodiversity. Planning and sustainable use of forest biomass in the forest energy chain. Modern bioenergy is seen as a promising option to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall demand for forest biomass is forecast to increase in the future. Production of biomass for energy from sustainable forestry. The 7 principles of a sustainable biomass policy v3. Forestbased biomass energy projects will sustainable. It also hinders the capacity of nature to remove carbon from the atmosphere and the deployment of genuinely clean, renewable energy technologies.
The increased use of renewable energy sources, including forest biomass, in energy consumption is a marked characteristic in current eu and national energy policies. Alavalapati and others published forest biomassbased energy find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Increasing emphasis on renewable energy sources has resulted in renewed attention to using forest and agricultural biomass for energy. Promoting renewable energy and forest stewardship environmental and energy study institute 3 one such renewable resource is biomass, particularly woody biomass from land clearing, landscaping, industrial byproducts, and especially our nations abundant forest resources. Current use of biomass for energy in the united states is about 3. Since the 1970s, significant accomplishments have been made in harvesting, genetics, silviculture, and conversion processes related to energy.
Direct benefit to bioenergy industry by increasing forest derived biomass in a publicly and ecologically acceptable manner technology transfer through emds and snow2flow. Forest biomass bioenergy 2016 department of energy. Annex to the short study on forest biomass for energy in the eu. This guidance proposes principles for cascading use of biomass in general, but it also takes a closer look at developments in the forest. Sustainability of wood biomass used in bioenergy production. Sustainable forest management for land rehabilitation and provision of biomass energy key messages there is potential for certain types of degraded land to be restored into sustainable forest and to produce biomass for renewable energy, if implemented under careful management. A greater use of forest biomass for energy could add up to 200 m aud to the tasmanian economy, predominantly generated in rural communities.
With the largescale utilization of forest biomass for energy still in its infancy, there is an urgent need to understand the short and longterm consequences of intensive forest biomass harvesting. Mar, 20 researching the use of biomass in energy production i have found a lot of contention and passionate views on the sustainability of this energy source, particularly where large power stations including the likes of drax are in the process of switching a significant proportion of their fuel to biomass. Why biomass is important the role of the usda forest. Guidance on cascading use of biomass with selected good.
Biomass conversion technologies that produce energy and reduce carbon emissions have become more feasible to develop. Biomass energy and sustainability bioenergy consult. For these reasons, many countries opt to use biomass plants, with europe being the main focus of action with the five largest plants in the world in england, poland and three in finland. Solid biomass, such as wood and garbage, can be burned directly to produce heat. Capturing social and environmental benefits as part of bioenergys value proposition forest biomass bob emory, southern timberlands environmental affairs manager, weyerhauser. So that the production of biobased energy would proceed in a sustainable manner, the commission proposes the expansion of sustainability criteria to cover not only liquid biofuels but also the production of electricity and heat from solid and. Biomass supply for a bioenergy and bioproducts industry. Upgrading the biofuel quality by extracting harmful species especially for biogas and syngas ammonium, sulfur. The recently revised report from the billionton study pdf you may download a free pdf reader from adobe examined the feasibility of u. Forest biomass for energy in the eu current trends, carbon balance and sustainable potential under existing eu renewable energy polices, forest biomass is expected to play a significant role in europes renewable energy mix until 2020 and is set to further increase under future policies with a 2030 horizon. Status, challenges, and public policies utilization of. Sustainable and optimal use of biomass for energy in the.
Future demand for forestbased biomass for energy purposes in. Sustainable production of forest biomass for energy. Economic scenario conducive to the exploitation of biomass plants. The combustion of native forest biomass for energy production at the industrial scale poses serious threat to the climate, and to australias unique forests and forest dependent species. Climate impact of the sustainable use of forest biomass in energy and material system a life cycle perspective, linnaeus university dissertations no 20182018, isbn. Forest biomass for energy in the eu current trends, carbon balance and sustainable potential under existing eu renewable energy polices, forest biomass is expected to play a significant role in europes renewable energy mix until 2020 and is set to further increase under future policies with a. Senate passes energy bill with probiomass amendment. Proper consideration for public health and socioeconomic life, through promotion of technology and positive attitude towards the effective management, sustainable and efficient use of biomass energy seems necessary. Biomass is a sustainable and reliable energy resource 2. Efficiency, scale, and sustainability energy supply and use is a national priority and a major focus of national, state, and local policy makers across the united states. The forestry and also the energy sector has recently focused on the use of woody biomass for green energy, fuels and materials for reducing the dependency on fossil fuels and petroleum, because of. Sustainable agriculture and the production of biomass for. With reference to the use of forest biomass for energy, the pfar regional forest and environmental plan 8 proposes an overall analysis which will give each type of forest an average annual growth value and a coefficient which indicates the maximum use that is compatible with sustainable forest management table 3. At the end of 2016, the european commission published the socalled winter package, which includes a proposal for a renewable energy directive.
Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy draws on the vast body of knowledge of forest ecology and management in the nordicbaltic region, with the aim of bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and general principles on the one hand, and more concrete practical forest management and policy development on the other. Pdf effects of unsustainable use of biomass energy for. Senate passed new energy legislation by a vote of 85 to 12. While biomass energy, particularly traditional biomass energy use, is often perceived in a negative light, there are attractive opportunities for using biomass energy in a more modern, efficient and environmentally friendly ways karekezi and.
How sustainable is biomass as a renewable energy source. Effects of unsustainable use of biomass energy for cooking and strategies for their reduction in developing countries article pdf available january 2012 with 194 reads how we measure reads. Sustainable and optimal use of biomass for energy in the eu beyond 2020 6 project team the following people have contributed to this report. Biomass energy systems offer significant possibilities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to their immense potential to replace fossil fuels in energy production. Proposed forest biomass utilization for energy has focused on producing motor biofuels. It could also replace significant amounts of fossil fuels and contribute to climate change mitigation. Since nonoecd countries are disproportionately dependent on biomass energy meeting 26 per cent of their energy needs they could capitalise on this trend. This book includes 18 papers representing different authors from nine countries. Nontraditional use of biomass at certified forest management. In finland, industrial scale use of renewable energy is incentivised using a feedin tariff fit scheme. The bill, titled the energy policy modernization act, or s. Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy proceedings of the woodenman session at the conference nordic bioenergy 2005 trondheim, norway, 27 octboer 2005 edited by n. Sustainable forest management for land rehabilitation and.
The biomass for energy use from forestry practices or crops on marginal land are a sustainable alternative, but may not have the potential to provide enough stocks 10. A strategy for increasing the use of woody biomass for energy. Energy from forest biomass is a book that emerged from the papers presented at the international union of forestry research organization iufro xvii world congress held in kyoto, japan. Bioenergy a sustainable and reliable energy source. Plan to use biomass harvesting to finance what were money losing stand improvement activities southeast biomass for energy has lower quality standards than pulp for paper can use forest slash and will have 2x co2 benefit. Background renewable energy must be supported in order to enter the energy markets, but the support must be limited to renewable energy that is produced in sustainable ways.
The biggest increase in renewable energy production came from energy produced from forest industry black liquor and byproducts, which made up over 60 percent of total renewable energy. Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy a synthesis. Biomass is still an expensive source of energy, both in terms of producing biomass and converting it into alcohols, as a very large quantity of biomass is needed. Criteria for sustainable use of biomass including biofuels position of international network for sustainable energy europe version, july 15, 2006. Biomass resources can play a major role in reducing the reliance on fossil fuels by making use of thermochemical. The two leading options for converting large amounts of biomass in the u. Biomass for energy and forest fuel reduction ecolink. Forest biomassbased energy critical for the future of southern forests wear and others 2009.
Managing and using biomass for energy and other uses. Certification criteria for sustainable biomass for energy. In this document, a forest biomass project involves the use of a single source of forest biomass or a combination of sources harvest residues from forest management activities, residual biomass from industrial processes, postconsumption wood waste, and biomass from energy plantations to produce energy in the form of heat, steam or electricity. The society of american foresters saf encourages the creation and enhancement of local and national policies that support the development of markets for fuel, heat, and power from sustainably sourced woody biomass. New varieties of woody crops that are fast growing, highyielding, pestresistant, and water and nutrient use efficient. This is mostly traditional biomass used for cooking and heating. Biomass reduces emissions and enhances carbon sequestration since shortrotation crops or forests established on abandoned agricultural land accumulate carbon in the soil. Useful tools for identifying surface fuels and biomass for the guidance of employees of the forest service, u. Biomass will have an important role in energy, the environment, and economy of the future.
Forest biomass management systems and technologies to offset impacts and. Climate impact of the sustainable linnaeus university. Biogas forms when paper, food scraps, and yard waste decompose in landfills, and it can be produced by processing sewage and. Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy springerlink. Iinas international institute for sustainability analysis and strategy. Biomass is plant or animal material used for energy production electricity or heat, or in various industrial processes as raw substance for a range of products. Biomass and bioenergy sustainable use of forest biomass.
To mitigate climate change, the use of residual forest biomass for energy production is the most beneficial forest energy option. Biomass energy usually provides an irreversible mitigation effect by reducing carbon dioxide at source, but it may emit more carbon per unit of energy than fossil fuels unless biomass fuels are produced in a sustainable manner. Support biomass harvesting standards, sustainable forest management, and procurement guidelines to ensure a sustainable supply chain for timber and other biomass. Introduction the inefficiency of handling and transporting. This paper analyzes the potential of converting biomass into biomethanol at forest management units experiencing three forest management practices communitybased forest management cbfm, plantation forest pf, and natural production forest npf. A strategy for increasing the use of woody biomass for energy national association of state foresters page 6 of 46 benefits of biomass energy biomass energy provides opportunities for businesses, institutions, utilities and others to meet a range of energy needs in a costeffective manner while supporting the local economy and environmental goals. Biomass can also be converted into a gas called biogas or into liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Po box 1611, montpelier, vermont 05601 ph 8022237770 fax 8022237772. Table 1 provides a comparison among the dried energy densities of several common onfarm energy sources.
Price volatility associated with increased use of woody biomass for energy is expected to be higher for pulpwood than for sawtimber. A report by the environment agency about carbon balances of biomass fuels. In europe the sensible use of forest biomass for energy. This eipagri focus group on sustainable mobilisation of forest biomass smfb group will concentrate on innovation in mobilising different types of forest biomass for all potential markets and better interlinking supply and demand. Volumes and improve forest health in the us 750 million acres of forest area 304 million hectares total us forest area is within 1% of what it was 100 years ago during the last 60 years, forest inventories have grown by more than 50% in the us us forest carbon stocks. Almost half of the swedish bioenergy use occurs in the forest industry sector, where byproducts and residues are used for generating process heat and for combined heat and power production chp swedish energy agency, 2015a.
1486 365 155 30 759 1084 487 640 57 831 174 1398 623 1300 107 662 851 1440 138 501 494 185 183 707 1181 571 927 980