Wood fuel has become central in environmental policy and decision-making processes in cross-sectoral areas. Proper consideration of different types of woody biomass is fundamental in forming energy transition and decarbonization strategies. We quantified the development of theoretical (TPs) and sustainable (SPs) potentials of wood fuel from forests, trees outside forests, wood residues and waste wood in Switzerland for 2020, 2035 and 2050. Ecological and economic restrictions, timber market situations and drivers of future developments (area size, tree growth, wood characteristics, population growth, exporting/importing (waste wood)) were considered. We estimated a SP of wood fuel between 26.5 and 77.8 PJ/a during the three time points. Results demonstrate that the SP of wood fuel could be significantly increased already in the short term. This, as a moderate stock reduction (MSR) strategy in forests, can lead to large surpluses in SPs compared to the wood fuel already used today (~36 PJ/a), with values higher by 51% (+18.2 PJ) in 2020 and by 59% (+21.3 PJ) in 2035. To implement these surpluses (e.g., with a cascade approach), a more circular economy with sufficient processing capacities of the subsequent timber industries and the energy plants to convert the resources is required.
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, countries need to transform their energy system by increasing the share of renewable energies. For years, the use of fossil fuels meant devoting little land area to energy provision. As renewables require much more space, the relationship between renewable energy and land area becomes highly relevant. In this context, land scarcity is an important challenge, especially for densely populated countries. The power density concept, describing the relationship between energy carrier and area used for its production in W/m2, can aid decision‐making for resources allocation. Bioenergy plays a key role in the energy transition due to its diverse applications. Here, we assess how much area it takes to generate, transport and process various biomass types for energy purposes. We differentiate between 10 biomass types, determining area requirement (m2) and energy input (kWh) for each process along the supply chain. Using the whole sustainable biomass available requires >0.1% of Switzerland's land area (31 km2). Particularly for waste biomass, the area required for energy is negligible. Power densities vary widely within and between biomass types. Taking the average between minimum and maximum, they are highest for coniferous protection forest against natural hazards 114 W/m2 (22–267 W/m2) and green waste 96 W/m2 (26–176 W/m2). All of these are lower than literature values for fossil fuels (>1000 W/m2). However, sustainable power densities including compensatory land for greenhouse gas emissions are higher for biomass (average 2.4 W/m2, maximum 14.4 W/m2) than for fossil fuels (natural gas 0.9 W/m2, coal 0.2 W/m2). Estimating land requirement and power density facilitates weighing up whether and to what degree different biomass types should be used for energy.
Mit der Entwicklung eines konzeptionellen Rahmens sind wir in der Lage, die Auswirkungen ökologischer und ökonomischer Restriktionen auf die räumlich-zeitliche Verfügbarkeit von Waldenergieholz in der Schweiz zu quantifizieren. Wir haben sie über einen Zeitraum von 40 Jahren für drei Waldbewirtschaftungsszenarien und zwei Holzmarktsituationen mit und ohne Subventionen für die Bewirtschaftung von Schutzwäldern simuliert. Ökologische und ökonomische Restriktionen schränkten die Verfügbarkeit von Waldenergieholz stark ein. Das theoretische Potenzial entsprach der jährlichen Holzproduktion von 9 bis 16 Mio. m3/a oder 67 bis 118 PJ/a. Ökologische Restriktionen reduzierten es auf etwa die Hälfte bis ein Drittel, die zusätzlichen ökonomischen auf ein Drittel bis ein Fünftel (14–41 PJ/a), und nach Abzug der aktuellen Nutzung verblieb ein Zehntel des theoretischen Potenzials oder weniger. Verglichen mit der derzeitigen Waldbewirtschaftung erhöhten die Szenarien zum Vorratsabbau die verfügbaren Energieholzmengen über 40 Jahre um das Drei- bis Vierfache – dies insbesondere kurzfristig. Günstige Energieholzmärkte erhöhten die Verfügbarkeiten um 20 bis 25% und Subventionen um 30%, vor allem in den alpinen Regionen. Unter den aktuellen Marktpreisen sind das Mittelland und der Jura mit den grössten ungenutzten Potenzialen und der geringsten Abhängigkeit von Subventionen vielversprechende Regionen für die Energieholzmobilisierung. Die Reduktion der Vorräte bietet sich an, um in der frühen Phase der Energiewende mehr Energieholz im Wald zu nutzen und auf diese Weise Versorgungslücken anderer erneuerbarer Energien auszugleichen.
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