Abstract
Forest biomass is and will remain a primary source of renewable energy in many EU countries in the coming years. The aim of this study was to determine the energy potential of forest biomass on a regional scale with regard to the needs of its inhabitants in terms of electricity and heat consumption. The study was carried out in south-eastern Poland. Energy potential was calculated based on the determined wood mass and calorific value of wood. The current level of forest biomass acquisition satisfies 4.2% of the needs of the local market in terms of electricity and heat consumption. Taking into account high forest cover of the region (40%), the 60% annual increment of total harvesting, and obtaining biomass at the level of 30% of the total harvesting, waste wood from the forest can meet 58.1% of the needs of the local market in terms of electricity consumption and 14.4% of the need for thermal energy consumption. There is a certain niche in the fuel wood market that is currently unused, presenting the opportunity to develop this sector and generate additional jobs in local markets. However, the increase in obtained forest biomass must be in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.
Highlights
Renewable energy sources (RES), including biomass, are coming into focus as the demand to reduce the share of conventional fuels in the total energy production in EU countries becomes urgent [1,2]
Forest biomass is important for energy production, accounting for 80% of the biomass used in the EU [4]; it is estimated to account for 50% of the total biomass potential in the EU [5]
There is a certain niche in the energy wood market that is currently unused, presenting the opportunity to develop this sector and generate additional jobs in local markets
Summary
Renewable energy sources (RES), including biomass, are coming into focus as the demand to reduce the share of conventional fuels in the total energy production in EU countries becomes urgent [1,2]. Forest biomass is important for energy production, accounting for 80% of the biomass used in the EU [4]; it is estimated to account for 50% of the total biomass potential in the EU [5]. The share of solid biomass in the overall structure of RES in Poland is as high as 68%, of which over 90% is woody biomass [11]. In Poland, among all kinds of woody biomass acquired for energy purposes, the largest amount is wood directly obtained from forests. Other sources of woody biomass for energy purposes include energy crops and wood indirectly obtained from forests. They include waste from the wood industry (lumber, shavings, wood chips, sawdust, and bark), while in Energies 2020, 13, 4985; doi:10.3390/en13184985 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
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