Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy pdf

The biomass energy centre was asked to comment on this report, and the us paper on which it is based. There is, however, a potential competition for land and water between bioenergy and food crops. The most welcome research papers will discuss the projects of transition of current fossilbased energy systems to ones that could sustainably use biomass resources. Harvesting forest biomass as a sustainable fuel source in order to curb the threat of climate change and reliance on fossil fuels, the united states enacted new policies that utilize renewable energy. By contrast, the carbon in fossil fuels stems from earths crust, so burning these fuels injects additional carbon into the atmosphere. Mes analytical essay harvesting forest biomass as a. The recently revised report from the billionton study pdf you may download a free pdf reader from adobe examined the feasibility of u. Contents executive summary 1 1 sustainable bioenergy and transition to a greener economy 2 1. For these reasons, many countries opt to use biomass plants, with europe being the main focus of action with the five largest plants. Biomass is a collective term for all plant and animal material.

Correctly managed, biomass is a sustainable fuel that can deliver a significant reduction in net carbon emissions when compared with fossil fuels. Sustainable agriculture and the production of biomass for. At present, existing utilization of forest biomass for energy purpose in the united states has been dominated by the forest products industry in generating heat and power for internal use. Biomass and biowaste energy vectors, such as bioethanol, biooil, biodiesel, biohydrogen, and bioelectricity from biowastes and biomass will be.

In some countries, such as finland and poland, forest biomass meets more than 80% of renewable energy demand. Increasing emphasis on renewable energy sources has resulted in renewed attention to using forest and agricultural biomass for energy. Criteria for sustainable use of biomass including biofuels position of international network for sustainable energy europe version, july 15, 2006. The use of ethanol as transportation fuels also produces less sulfur, carbon monoxide, and particulates. The sustainable use of biomass as an energy source requires comprehensive management of natural resources such as land and water. Increased use of biomass fuels is a promising option to decrease our dependence on foreign oil while reducing greenhouse emissions. Capturing social and environmental benefits as part of bioenergys value proposition forest biomass bob emory, southern timberlands environmental affairs manager, weyerhauser.

The use of biomass fuel provides an economic incentive to manage woodland which improves biodiversity. Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy a synthesis. Forest sustainability biomass energy resource center. Plants absorb the suns energy in a process called photosynthesis. The real value of forest biomass for energy production is its renewability and potential sustainability. Iinas international institute for sustainability analysis and strategy. Berc works to advance the use of communityscale biomass energy throughout north america and beyond by providing technical consulting services, biomass energy program design and delivery, and education and outreach on benefits and best practices. 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. Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy springerlink.

Biomass is the structural and nonstructural carbohydrates and other. Sustainable utilisation of forest biomass for energy. Examples of biomass include wood, straw, poultry litter and energy crops such as willow and poplar grown on short rotation coppice and miscanthus. For example, the future use of biomass for food, fodder, and traditional materials e.

This chapter presents a broad overview of biomass and bioenergy, the potential environmental, economic and sustainability benefits to be derived from using biomass to generate electricity, and the. Applying sustainable forest management principles will enhance the health and productivity of forests. Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals, and it is a renewable source of energy. Sbp has developed a certification system to provide assurance that woody biomass is sourced from legal and sustainable sources. Status, challenges, and public policies utilization of. 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 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. For more than a century, forest product companies have created energy from. Economic scenario conducive to the exploitation of biomass plants. Support biomass harvesting standards, sustainable forest management, and procurement guidelines to ensure a sustainable supply chain for. 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.

Americas foresters and forest products producers use the greatest carbon capture technology ever devised. When biomass is burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat. Biomass is therefore a carbonneutral source of energy. Planning and sustainable use of forest biomass in the forest energy chain. Sustainable and optimal use of biomass for energy in the eu beyond 2020 6 project team the following people have contributed to this report. Another question is whether biomass for energy use can be produced in a sustainable manner given the current conventional agricultural production practices. Why biomass is important the role of the usda forest. Forest biomass accounts for about half of europes renewable energy consumption. Research on the sustainability of burning biomass about. A model for the sustainable energy use of forest biomass.

Biomass for energy 11 energy industry ensures sustainable danish and imported biomass principles for sustainable forestry and sourcing the danish energy industry only wants to use sustainable biomass and thus purchase and use of wood pellets and chips are based on the following principles. A report by the environment agency about carbon balances of biomass fuels. As developing energy policy recognises the need to reduce coal use, renewable energy and the sustainable use of biomass resources is of increasing importance iea 20022003. Sustainable production of woody biomass for energy introduction forests and woody crops are a source of energy through the conversion of woody biomass into convenient solid, liquid or gaseous fuels to provide energy for industrial, commercial or domestic use. Support biomass harvesting standards, sustainable forest management, and procurement guidelines to ensure a sustainable supply chain for timber and other biomass harvesting activities 4. Climate impact of the sustainable use of forest biomass in energy and material system a life cycle perspective, linnaeus university dissertations no 20182018, isbn. Already biomass provides about 11% of the worlds primary energy supplies. How much energy can woody biomass supply in the us. Pdf planning and sustainable use of forest biomass in. Biomass resources can play a major role in reducing the reliance on fossil fuels by making use of thermochemical. A synthesis with focus on the baltic and nordic region managing forest ecosystems on free shipping on qualified orders. Energy, environment, economy and forest management energy, environment, and economy the three big es are so intertwined that it is almost impossible to discuss any one independent of the other two. However, the additional use of biomass for novel biomaterials e. Biomass will have an important role in energy, the environment, and economy of the future.

The biomass energy resource center berc is a program of vermont energy investment corporation veic. Biomass electricity is drawn from combusting or decomposing organic matter. 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. 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. Bioenergy crops and agricultural and forestry residues can provide farmers with an important new source of revenue that could improve forest ecosystem health. One such policy, the energy policy act of 2005, created the renewable fuel standard program rfs.

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. Vtby law funds 30% of school biomass heat projects, the balance is through bonds. Biomass and bioenergy sustainable use of forest biomass. Knowledge and management experience in use of biomass for energy should be shared across regions to promote best practices. That concept may have had some validity in 2009 when the idea was that unused forestry residues would be the main source of bioenergy. Biomass plants power homes and businesses with electricity from waste matter that would have been released into the atmosphere, added fuel to forest fires, or burdened landfills. Sustainable forest management for land rehabilitation and. Sustainable use of biomass for heating and transport fuel. Production of biomass for energy from sustainable forestry. Bureaucratic bureaucracy to another type of renewable energy promotion. 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. Fund and conduct accurate and ongoing assessments of sustainable biomass energy supply 3. Biomass energy and sustainability bioenergy consult. This is very different from fossil fuelbased systems which produce energy from coal, oil, and.

Proposed forest biomass utilization for energy has focused on producing motor biofuels. Unsustainable biomass production would erode the climaterelated environmental advantage of bioenergy. Climate impact of the sustainable linnaeus university. The energy use of forest biomass in the eu is closely linked to the forestry and wood processing industries. However, the large renewable energy subsidies made available in some member states have led to a huge increase in forest biomass use. 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. Now we are adding to our sustainability efforts by powering our businesses with sustainable, carbon neutral bioenergy. Sustainable forest management for land rehabilitation and provision of biomassenergy 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.