Introduction to Forest Biomass

Blas MOLA-YUDEGO

Summary

This session aims at reviewing the development of modern bioenergy, including some of the main factors contributing to its successful implementation. Bioenergy is the utilization of biomass resources for the production of energy. As such, it is perhaps the oldest technology ever used for energy. What is new then? What are the differences between using wood for energy in the past and nowadays? This presentation summarizes my own view on bioenergy and the main differences with past uses of fire-wood for domestic or industrial consumption. This session also briefly introduces the most common raw materials used for bioenergy in Northern Europe, and the different technologies associated to each of them, focusing and justifying those that will be developed along the course. 

Objectives

This introductory session focuses on:

• Rationale and pre-conditions for modern bioenergy development.
• Examples of modern use of wood for energy
• Overview of biomass markets and origins

Materials

The modern concept of bioenergy [video][PDF]. Bioenergy is the utilization of biomass resources for the production of energy. As such, it is perhaps the oldest technology ever used for energy. What is new then? What are the differences between using wood for energy in the past and nowadays? This video presents my views on bioenergy, and why it is more than the mere utilization of wood to produce energy. 

Energy from the Forest – Benefits for the Local Economy  This is a video summary of this theme of the course, and shows the different steps to produce biomass from the forests till the power plant. The video is shot in a small municipality in Finland, that has established a district heating plant to produce bioenergy. In Finland local bioenergy operators have combined forces in the harvesting and utilization of energy wood. Eno Energy Cooperative manages the entire production chain from harvesting to wood chipping, transportation, and heating plant operations which has resulted in many benefits for the local economy. Source: Wenet, The Wenet Centre Project is coordinated by Joensuu Regional Development Company JOSEK Ltd, the Kajaani University Consortium, and the universities of applied sciences of North Karelia, Savonia and Mikkeli. The EU Regional Development Fund co-finances the project with regional councils and development companies in Eastern Finland as well as Wenet’s member companies.

Richardson, J., Björheden, R., Hakkila, P., Lowe, A. T., & Smith, C. T. (Eds.). (2006). Bioenergy from sustainable forestry: guiding principles and practice (Vol. 71). Springer Science & Business Media. [e-library link]

Schubert R et al (2010) Future bioenergy and sustainable land use, 365 pp. Earthscale [e-brary link]

Machines in biomass procurement operations [YouTube] ForestEnergy Portal

Harvesting of fast growing plantations [Youtube] at Salixodlarna

Welcome to the Forest Capital of Europe  The video introduces Finland and the city of Joensuu, located in North Karelia, hosting the European Forest Institute, the University of Eastern Finland, the former Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA, now LUKE), the North-Karelian University of Applied Sciences, among others. Industrially, there is the main factory of John Deere of forest machinery, one of the largest in Europe. Source: Wenet,Wenet: The Wenet Centre Project is coordinated by Joensuu Regional Development Company JOSEK Ltd, the Kajaani University Consortium, and the universities of applied sciences of North Karelia, Savonia and Mikkeli. The EU Regional Development Fund co-finances the project with regional councils and development companies in Eastern Finland as well as Wenet’s member companies.