Use Of Wood For Energy Research Articles

Household Fuelwood Consumption and Its Implication for Carbon Dioxide Emission

This review paper aims to gather informative data on the impact of climate extremes on the physical environment, public health, and the livelihoods of people in Ethiopia. The primary sources of data for this review were peer-reviewed journal articles obtained from electronic databases such as PubMed, Central, Scopus, and Web of Science. Globally, the vast majority of households in developing countries depend on wood energy for their daily energy needs. Such consumption trends are expected to remain a common feature of traditional wood energy production and consumption, at least in the short- to medium-terms. This situation increases the demand for firewood and charcoal from the forest. The process of harvesting standing trees for charcoal and fire wood leads to forest degradation. Although woody biomass has the function of energy consumption, and as a source of income for rural villagers and urban poor dwellers practicing agriculture, wood energy generally has low priority in national policies of developing countries. However, unsustainable management and negative environmental consequences in humid and dry forests is derived from the use of fuel wood energy. Still now there is an unsystematic assessment of the economic contribution and environmental consequences of wood energy use, so its significance and consequences have been minimized. This deforestation and forest degradation contributes 1–2.4 Gt CO2e of greenhouse gases, which is 2–7% of global anthropogenic emissions, with global greenhouse gas emissions mostly CO2.

The Impact of Forest Wood Product Exports on Environmental Performance in Asia

The pressure on governments has been increased to improve their environmental performance across the globe. To ensure sustainability, every country is now responsible for educating its citizens on its environmental policies for decreasing pollution and managing natural resources. Therefore, it is crucial to manage all elements that have a negative impact on a country’s environmental performance in order to ensure sustainability. This study’s main goal was to investigate how factors such as forest wood product exports, energy use, urbanization, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Asia affect environmental performance. In order to investigate the empirical links, this study analyzed annual data for 31 Asian countries from 2001 to 2020. Various econometric methodologies were used, including the generalized method of movement (GMM) approach and the Hausman test for fixed and random effects. According to the results of these econometric methodologies, forest wood product exports, urbanization, energy consumption, and GDP are all significantly contributing to Asia’s increasing CO2 emissions and deteriorating environmental performance. Based on the findings of this article, the selected Asian countries should curtail forest products in their trade basket in order to enhance environmental performance in the region. Furthermore, the alternative use of forest products and their exports could be increased to meet requirements.

Climate Change and Fuel Wood Energy Use in Cold Desert of Drass in the Himalaya, India

This paper has identified the impacts of climate change on fuel wood energy use in Drass, District Kargil, Ladakh in the Himalayan region and drawn the policy implication to improve the livelihoods of the people in the context of climate change using a case study approach. The study reveals that the major source of energy used and consumed in Drass is fuel wood. Almost all energy requirements for cooking and heating are met by burning fuel wood which produces smoke, cause air pollution, emits carbon dioxide and thereby contributes to climate change. Less than half of the farmers grow fuel wood in gardens or homesteads. Most farmers purchased fuel wood from the market. Awareness of environmental effects of using fuel wood is significant. Despite this, the exposure of women to indoor air pollution from biomass fuel combustion was significantly high. The use of cleaner energy was significantly low due to economic reasons as well as inadequate accessibility and availability. Forest resources are meager in Drass. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase forest cover with the stronger participation of local communities. The government sponsored schemes targeting efficient energy usage and energy insecurity should be implemented in letter and spirit through greater people's participation.

Key drivers of LULCC in co-managed and governmentmanaged forest reserves in Malawi (1999–2018)

Interventions through co-management (CM) and government-management (GM) for forest reserves can mitigate degradation and deforestation. Few studies have investigated the driving forces of Land Use/Cover Change (LULCC) using Remote sensing and socioeconomic data to assess the impact of management strategies on woodlands. This study investigated factors influencing LULCC in two co-managed and two governmentmanaged forest reserves (FR) between 1999 and 2018 in Malawi. Images from the Environment for Analysing Images and data from respondents representing 30% of the communities surrounding four FR were analysed in SPSS. Woodland loss to grassland, agriculture was observed in Liwonde CM, Kaning'ina and Thambani GM FR. Communities' perceptions confirmed woodland conversion. Population increases and poverty exacerbated agriculture and wood energy use. Up-scaling CM requires improved empowerment processes and capacity building. There is a need to curb corruption, monitor licensing, and develop forest plans and law enforcement in GM FR. Promoting geospatial and socioeconomic analysis tools will enhance forest monitoring.

A viable indicator approach for assessing sustainable forest management in terms of carbon emissions and removals

Abstract In forest management, the sustainability of a multitude of economic, ecological and socio-economic impacts and services is assessed. The role of forests in the global carbon (C) cycle is almost exclusively assessed through an ecosystem approach that relates emissions from timber harvesting and removals through biomass growth and C sequestration. While harvested wood leads to a reduction in the C-stock in forest C-pools, the use of wood for energy and production of wood-based materials results in significant emission reductions by substituting in place of greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive fuels and energy-intensive non-wood materials respectively. We present a new indicator approach for the assessment of sustainable forest management that includes the entire emissions and removals associated with the harvested wood along the wood product value chain and thus represents represents C-sustainability with respect to emissions and removals. The indicator is implemented in two variants. If information available on wood use and the carbon offsets associated with it is sufficient, the indicator can be derived by presenting emissions from wood harvesting and removals from wood use in the form of a carbon balance (C-balance indicator). If the balance is even or if removals predominate, forest management fulfills the requirement of C-sustainability. If the information is insufficient, the emissions from the wood harvest and possible wood processing losses are summed up, and the necessary displacement factor (DF) is calculated, which is necessary to compensate the corresponding emissions by carbon offsets of the wood use (DF-indicator). A comparison of the necessary displacement factor with common carbon offsets of typical wood uses allows an assessment of C-sustainability. The effectiveness of the C-indicator for assessing sustainable forest management is illustrated by two case studies. We found that in order to achieve carbon neutrality, substitution factors between 1.9 (lignite) and 2.5 (gas) are necessary, depending on the fossil fuel substituted. If no energetic substitution is assumed, the DF increases to a value of 3.3. In situations with high harvest losses, the necessary DFs well exceed values that can be achieved even under very positive assumptions; C-sustainability is therefore not met. Both approaches allow an assessment of C-sustainability beyond forest boundaries by giving appropriate weight to the importance of wood use in the carbon cycle. In addition to the implication of the indicator to evaluate SFM, we claim that this indicator is responsive to the emerging global forest related international processes and their reporting requirements such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD+) as well as nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NDCs, Low Emission Development Strategy).

Transforming wood energy in Sweden and Chile

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse and problematize the relations between international forestry companies and wood energy in the context of climate change in Chile and Sweden. Design/methodology/approach Based on interviews, field observations and analysis of documents, case studies of international forestry companies and wood energy in local areas of Chile and Sweden are examined comparatively. A conceptual framework combining political ecology and environmental communication is developed to approach the cases. Findings The paper finds that the two international forestry companies studied here have widely incorporated the use of wood energy as a renewable and carbon neutral energy strategy for their forestry business. Second, the paper finds that wood energy is used as a way to reproduce forestry development in the two countries, which is contested by NGOs and activists which are today articulating critical approaches to forestry development in the two countries. Third, related to the former finding, the paper finds that the incorporation of wood energy into the forest sector’s interests in Chile and Sweden takes place in the context of important social-ecological conflicts related to industrial forestry development. Originality/value The paper’s analytical framework helps to analyse the social-ecological nature of international business and the way they organise material practices and communicative meaning around renewable energy. The paper’s findings and analysis shed light on important problematic aspects of the material and symbolic struggles around renewable energy in the context of climate change. The comparative dimension of the analysis has the value to offer a cross-border analysis to improve the understanding of some of the most important aspects of international businesses concerning wood energy today.

Auch bei internen Entscheiden an die gesamte Holzkette denken (Essay)

Think of the entire timber sector even for internal decisions (essay) Every year, the demand for wood from Swiss forests decreases, although wood consumption increases, partly due to the growth of wood construction. At the same time, the wood sector is changing: there are fewer and fewer wood processing companies, while the use of wood energy is increasing. To counteract this development, the Swiss forestry and timber industry must join forces through cooperation, networks, integration of research and development and digitisation. The result of this cooperation should be an increased use of wood as a raw material and construction material and, in particular, an increase in wood harvesting in Swiss forests.

Innovation in the use of wood energy in the Ukrainian Carpathians: Opportunities and threats for rural communities

Ukraine is traditionally deeply dependent on fossil and nuclear energy. However, in response to global climate and energy policies, a major shift towards renewable energy (RE) is presently underway. Apart from ample wind and solar capacities, the country has abundant bioenergy resources, mainly from agriculture and forestry. Particularly in the densely-forested Ukrainian Carpathians, wood is the most prominent bioenergy source used to meet the heat demands of households and public buildings. However, despite increasing forest area and timber volume in this region during the last 50 years, affordable bioenergy from forests remains scarce in many areas. At the same time, local communities suffer from energy scarcity, energy insecurity and high energy costs.In an effort to understand how better use might be made of Ukraine's bioenergy resource, addressing sustainability goals as well as the needs of local communities, this study assesses the significance and future potential of wood energy for regional economies and households from an environmental, economic and social perspective. The study employs a mixed-method approach combining literature review, a Best Practice contest and semi-structured interviews with forestry sector stakeholders in rural areas of Transcarpathia and Lviv. Several reasons were identified for the scarcity of affordable bioenergy, including the export-oriented wood processing industry, the lack of forest road networks and machinery, the short-term character of national forest strategies in relation to bioenergy, and other institutional settings that limit access to forest resources. Illegal logging, corruption, and lacks of transparency in timber markets add further difficulties. To address these problems and to meet the challenges defined by international climate agreements, two key innovative instruments were identified; 1) certification schemes for forest products and; 2) community-driven bioenergy initiatives (e.g. local cooperatives.). These approaches, ideally embedded in a local energy strategy developed by the communities themselves, have the potential to transform energy and benefit communities and the local economy.

Heat or power: How to increase the use of energy wood at the lowest cost?

We compute the optimal subsidy level for fuelwood consumption that makes it possible to achieve the French biomass energy consumption target. For this purpose, we model the competition and trade-offs between the consumption of fuelwood for heat (FW-H) and the consumption of fuelwood for electricity (FW-E). To do so, we couple a forest sector model with an electricity simulation model, and we test different scenarios combining FW-H and FW-E that account for contrasting potential increases in the carbon price and the potential reduction in the number of nuclear plants. We assess the implications of these scenarios on (1) the budgetary costs for the government, (2) industrial wood producers' profits, (3) cost savings in the power sector for the different scenarios tested, and (4) the carbon balance.We show that the scenario with the highest carbon price and the lowest number of nuclear plants is the least expensive from a budgetary perspective. Indeed, when associated with a high carbon price, co-firing may increase FW-E demand with a lower subsidy level, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of reaching the target. However, in this case, FW-E crowds out part of FW-H, which may cause political and economic issues. From a carbon balance perspective, an FW-H-only scenario performs better than any other scenario that combines FW-H and FW-E due to the relatively low emissions factors of alternative technologies for electricity generation and, in particular, nuclear energy.

Simulation of floor heating in a combined solar-biomass system integrated in a public bathhouse located in Marrakech

This study was conducted in the framework of the HYBRID-BATH project aiming at improving the energy efficiency of traditional Hammams (Turkish baths) and the reduction of the use of wood energy and therefore of greenhouse gases emissions. The present work focuses on the energetic performance of a two-room Hammam located in Marrakech. The rooms were heated by the ground using a hybrid system Micro-CSP/biomass boiler. The dynamic simulation of the system (Hammam coupled with the hybrid system Micro-CSP/biomass boiler) was conducted using TRNSYS18 software. The parametric study was performed on a Typical Meteorological Year data (TMY). This study is devoted to presenting the results of the dynamic simulation of a part of the Hammam investigated, in order to optimize the underfloor heating system. The models and the results of the simulations will be validated by comparisons with experimental results. The main objective is to optimize the operation of such system and to improve its performance.

Forest Maintenance Practices and Wood Energy Alternatives to Increase Uses of Forest Resources in a Local Initiative in Nishiwaga, Iwate, Japan

This study assesses the impact of wood energy use under underutilized conditions of wood resources: the impact on promotion of forest maintenance practices (FMPs), user costs, and local economies, using the case of a local initiative in Nishiwaga, Iwate, Japan. We conducted two main analyses: resource and economic assessment. For resource assessment, we investigate whether wood supply from FMP residue is sufficient to sustainably satisfy new demand created by a local initiative in Nishiwaga, and in how much forest area can FMPs be performed to satisfy the demand. These questions are analyzed by linear programming. Regarding economic assessment, we investigate whether replacement of fossil fuel by wood energy brings economic benefit to a user and local economy using input–output analysis. Our overall findings demonstrated that the use of wood energy under underutilized situations can lead to an increase of implementations of FMPs and of domestic wood resource supplies from a short-term perspective that comes from residues of the FMPs. We also found that wood energy consumption introduces co-benefits in terms of reduced heating costs for users and a larger economic impact on the local economy than fossil fuel.

Assessing wood use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of wood product cascading in the European Union

Cascading use of biomass is a recognized strategy contributing to an efficient development of the bioeconomy and for mitigating climate change. This study aims at assessing the potential of cascading use of woody biomass for reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions and increasing the overall wood flow efficiency in the European Union's forest and bioeconomy sectors. A scenario and life cycle approach was followed to quantify the potential benefits of cascading use of woody biomass. We started from a reference scenario in which (post-consumer) waste wood and paper are re-utilized for energy only (S0). Then we compared the reference scenario with two alternative scenarios, the current waste wood and paper recycling practices (S1) and the maximum technical potential to increase recycling of waste wood and paper flows (S2). Following a supply chain perspective, different stages of production were analysed, including forgone fossil-fuels substitution, optimization at manufacturing level and forest regrowth. Through cascading use, the wood use efficiency ratio (cascade factor) in the European wood sector would be increased by 23% (S0 vs S1) and 31% (S0 vs S2) and GHG emissions (cradle-to-gate energy use) would be reduced by 42% (28 MtCO2-eq/year) and 52% (35 MtCO2-eq/year) in scenarios S1 and S2. However, increased wood product cascading is counter effected in the short term by reduced savings in the energy sector by 49% and 48% (−43 and −42 MtCO2-eq/year) in scenarios S1 and S2 due to delayed availability of waste wood and waste paper fibers. This explorative study highlights the potential of cascading use of woody biomass in the wood production chains to contribute to a reduction of environmental impacts related to wood resource and energy use, but it also reveals trade-offs in terms of GHG emissions reduction, relevant especially in meeting short-term (2020–2030) renewable energy targets.

The impact of a new emission control act on particulate matter emissions from residential wood energy use in Bavaria, Germany

The use of wood energy for renewable heat production in private households has grown considerably in central Europe in the past years. Residential wood combustion is Janus-faced with regard to air emissions. Besides yielding lower greenhouse gas emissions than the combustion of fossil fuels, wood combustion is associated with pollutant emissions that are harmful to human health. The heating systems have great potential for emission reduction due to the widespread combustion of wood in installations that are often overage. An emission control act aimed at heating system modernisation and emission load reduction has recently taken effect in Germany. This paper analyses the development of the particulate matter emission load from wood energy combustion in the case study area of Bavaria until 2035. It also evaluates the impact of the legal amendment. The emission load of prevalent heating systems is calculated based on two wood consumption scenarios, and the influence of the emission control act is analysed, taking into account retro-fitting and the replacement rates of old heating systems. The results show that particulate matter emissions could be reduced considerably and there is potential for an increase in the efficiency of resource use in the domestic heating sector.

Assessing fossil fuel substitution through wood use based on long-term simulations

ABSTRACTTo fully analyze the forestry and wood products sector's impact on climate protection through the reduction of CO2 emissions, it is necessary to integrate all aspects of both carbon storage and the substitution effects of forestry and wood use. Substitution effects are assessed based on specific assumptions derived from life-cycle assessment studies, which for the purpose of comparison usually refer to the respective energy mix. This definition is, however, normative. Different assumptions regarding fossil fuel substitution, such as marginal benefit or changing energy mix, are also possible. This paper discusses which of these alternative assumptions are most appropriate for analyzing fossil fuel substitution and then, based on three different approaches (status quo, changing energy mix, marginal fossil), shows the variation in the results these assumptions provide. The calculations include three different forest management strategies in order to show the effects of forest C sinks and different wood volumes available for use (material and energy). Long-term simulations tracking the C effects of forestry and wood use reveal the greatest variations. These findings are useful for deciding between different forestry management scenarios and strategies for wood product and energy use from a climate protection perspective.

What drives consumption of wood energy in the residential sector of small cities in Europe and how that can affect forest resources locally? The case of Bragança, Portugal

SUMMARY A study in a small city in Portugal was conducted to improve the understanding of the role of wood energy in the residential energy services in small cities in Europe, the factors affecting the use of wood consumption in households, and how changes in consumption drivers affect forest resources. The hypothesis that small cities in Europe have wood energy consumption much larger than expected was analysed based on survey data collection. Drivers were analysed through statistical modelling. Wood, used in 42% of households, represented 43% of the city's final energy consumption. The probability of wood energy use depended of resident's age, construction type, area and year. The amount of wood used was explained by resident's education, construction type and age, and energy function. Changes in drivers suggest a decrease in wood demand in the near future although new energy products and changes in energy use can balance this trend.

Forests in the Finnish low carbon scenarios

Abstract Finland is committed to the EU goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from the 1990 levels by 2050. We examine the potential role of the forests in fulfilling this goal in Finland. We base our analysis on the six scenarios that supported the parliamentary process of preparing Energy and Climate Roadmap 2050 for Finland to which we contributed by providing the assessment of forest sector development. While the scenario paths show that a systemic change to achieve the 80% target is possible with the increasing use of wood for energy being an important tool to cut emissions, our projections here show that an increase in forest carbon sink alone could play at least as important a role in improving the carbon balance. As the Finnish forests are growing clearly more than the projected removals of wood biomass are, Finland's carbon balance in full carbon accounting might become negative already before 2040 thanks to the forest sink. The forest growth might come to offset all other emissions sources even without other measures and still allow an increase in the use of wood for materials and energy. Nevertheless also other emission saving measures are needed because there is currently a cap which limits the use of LULUCF sinks as an emission reduction tool, and because of the fact that at some future point of time the forest sink will saturate while being vulnerable to many risks at the meantime.

Paying for What You Get: Accounting for the Nonrenewable Component in Wood to Energy

Abstract Growing international trade in wood pellets is one response to regional efforts to mitigate the global problem of climate change. With this growing use of wood energy, there is increased scrutiny of the associated environmental impacts and concern over possible unintended consequences (e.g., nonrenewable energy inputs) that may detract from the carbon savings provided by such renewable energy sources. The focus of this article is to present an accounting system for the embodied fossil fuels in wood energy systems. This system is based on life-cycle assessment methodology and could accommodate fairly the variability in fossil fuel inputs for various bioenergy systems. Such a system could be incorporated into biofuel subsidies or carbon taxation policies. We use three scenarios as examples to illustrate (1) that wood-to-energy systems entail the use of fossil fuels and that the amount of this “embodied fossil carbon” varies with the processing inputs and transportation required and (2) that carbon tax/biofuel subsidies can be adjusted to accommodate variations in embodied fossil carbon. The growth in life-cycle databases and the advent of environmental product declarations make embodied fossil fuel calculations such as those presented here an increasingly practical component of biofuels policy development.

Effects of increased wood energy consumption on global warming potential, primary energy demand and particulate matter emissions on regional level based on the case study area Bavaria (Southeast Germany)

Wood energy use has strongly increased in Europe in the last decade entailing enhanced resource competition between the wood energy sector and the material-based wood sector. We applied the basket of benefit method for the forestry and wood cluster of the study area Bavaria to evaluate the impact of increased wood energy use and decreased material-based wood use on global warming potential, primary energy demand and particulate matter emissions. A baseline and a wood energy scenario were developed until 2035 and wood utilization in both scenarios was assessed via a Life Cycle Assessment of prevalent wood products, imported timber and conventional alternatives of use. The study reveals that, according to the modelled scenarios and the average substitution factors used, a demand shift towards more wood energy leads to a minor increase in global warming potential and to a reduction in primary energy demand. Increase in particulate matter emissions from wood energy use is strong, but definite conclusions cannot be drawn due to lack in data for material-based wood use. Moreover, the study results vary strongly depending on the products used for the comparative analysis. Through our approach, the ecological impact of increased wood energy use becomes visible for a whole region, taking into account the effect of a demand shift and of interdependent substitution effects.

The socioeconomic and environmental impacts of wood energy value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic map protocol

Abstract Background The vast majority of households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) depend on wood energy—comprising firewood and charcoal—for their daily energetic needs. Such consumption trends are expected to remain a common feature of SSA’s wood energy production and supply chains, at least in the short- to medium-terms. Notwithstanding its importance, wood energy generally has low priority in SSA national policies. However, the use of wood energy is often considered a key driver of unsustainable management and negative environmental consequences in the humid and dry forests. To date, unsystematic assessments of the socio-economic and environmental consequences of wood energy use have underplayed its significance, thus further hampering policy debates. Therefore, a more balanced approach which considers both demand and supply dynamics is needed. This systematic map aims at providing a comprehensive approach to understanding the role and impacts of wood energy across all regions and aspects in SSA. Methods The objective of this systematic map is to collate evidence from studies of environmental and socio-economic impacts of wood energy value chains, by considering both demand and supply within SSA. The map questions are framed using a Populations, Exposure, Comparators and Outcomes (PECO) approach. We name the supply and demand of wood energy as the “exposure,” composed of wood energy production, harvesting, processing, and consumption. The populations of interest include both the actors involved in these activities and the forest sites where these activities occur. The comparator is defined as those cases where the same wood energy activities occur with i) available/accessible alternative energy sources, ii) regulatory frameworks that govern the sector and iii) alternative technologies for efficient use. The outcomes of interest encompass both socioeconomic and environmental impacts that can affect more than the populations named above. For instance, in addition to the direct socioeconomic impacts felt by participants in the wood energy value chain, forest dwellers may experience livelihood changes due to forest degradation caused by external harvesters. Moreover, intensified deforestation in one area may concurrently lead to forest regeneration in another.

Activity-based costing method in forest industry – modelling the production and costs of sawing, the pulp and paper industry, and energy production

Annual commercial roundwood removal in Finland has reached approximately 50 million m3, delivering almost 1.6 billion Euros of stumpage earnings to forest owners. The aim of this dissertation is to study and model the production costs of saw-, pulp and paper mills and the combined heat and power (CHP) plant, which are the branches of forest industry that create most of the industry’s wood-paying capability. The modelling was performed by implementing the activity-based costing (ABC) method for virtual greenfield mills located in Finland. Firstly, according to the principles of ABC, mill productions were divided into processes. The sawmills consisted of eight processes, while the pulp and paper mills of ten each and the CHP plant consisted of four processes. Secondly, all required production resources of each process were defined and quantified. Thirdly, the costs of each process caused by using the wood processing or energy use resources were allocated to the products or raw materials with cost drivers. Results of the example calculations indicated that the cost structures of the studied mills shared some similarities: wood, pulp or paper drying was a relatively expensive process. The share of drying was 40%, 39% and 18% of the annual costs in the sawmill, pulp mill and paper mill, respectively. The fluidized bed boiler represented 47% of the total costs of the CHP plant. Taking into consideration the practical limitations of the test calculations, the profitability of the pulp and paper mills and CHP plant were on a healthy level. The sawmilling case was left out of the profit calculations due to lack of market price information. According to the results, ABC was well-suited to the demands of forest industry. The models provide useful tools for cost-based decision-making for both forestry specialists and the forest industry. The results indicate that the sawing pattern is a very important cost factor in sawmilling, while energy production was crucial for the pulp and paper industry and the utilization rate was in a key position for CHP. From the forest industry viewpoint the models directly aid in performance analyses; results of the calculations revealed that the relatively high share of drying costs in the industry signals that the most cost-effective improvements could be found from energy savings, which has been the tendency in past years. These results can be combined with the forest end of the supply chain, whereby forest engineers have access to better control over tree-bucking optimization and different parallel value chains of forestry can be compared and evaluated with high accuracy.