Economic and CO2 mitigation impacts of promoting biomass heating systems: An input–output study for Vorarlberg, Austria

Regional economic impacts of biomass district heating in rural New York

“…Many studies have examined the economic relation between the forest industry and its surrounding communities [15,22,35]; however, of those, few have addressed the impacts of biomass district heating [13,36]. This study will utilize an inputeoutput analysis (IeO) to: Assess the regional economic impacts associated with implementing BDH in ten villages within the Tug Hill, New York (NY) on the surrounding counties of Lewis, Oswego, and Oneida through modeling three major impacts: o BDH construction and capital costs o Biomass procurement, specifically wood chips from forest residues o Operations and maintenance of the BDH networks…”

“…The region could close these economic leakages and recycle its annual heating revenues throughout the regional economy by converting to biomass (specifically wood chips derived from forest residues) a locally derived fuel source [13,14]. An increased flow of revenue throughout the local economy often leads to subsequent job creation and increased household income throughout the region [13,15,16]. In an economic impact analysis of existing BDH networks, Madlener and Koller [13] determined that 39 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs and $2.2 million of value added were created throughout the Austrian province of Vorarlberg for every $1 million invested.…”

“…With $0.78 for every dollar spent on #2 fuel oil leaving the regional economy, the ten study villages of the Tug Hill export approximately $9.2 million dollars in heating expenditures out of the region (assuming 100% reliance on #2 fuel oil) [12]. The region could close these economic leakages and recycle its annual heating revenues throughout the regional economy by converting to biomass (specifically wood chips derived from forest residues) a locally derived fuel source [13,14]. An increased flow of revenue throughout the local economy often leads to subsequent job creation and increased household income throughout the region [13,15,16].…”

Resilience and Livelihoods in Supply Chains (RELISC): An Analytical Framework for the Development and Resilience of the UK Wood Fuel Sector

“…Studies have for the most part been based on a combination of different quantitative assessment methodologies. For instance, macro level socioeconomic impacts have been assessed using input-output analysis based on national and regional level statistical data, to produce indicators such as percentage sector contribution to GDP, products exported, investment in the sector, jobs creation and infrastructural development [6,[9][10][11]. Other frameworks have employed partial and general equilibrium optimisation methods to evaluate the impact of different energy and bioenergy policy on the sector at the national level [12,13].…”

“…Much attention has been given to bioenergy's environmental credentials but it has also been recognised that the growth of the sector depends on its impacts on individuals and communities [4]. Several studies have identified social and economic barriers within the wood fuel sector such as lack of cost competiveness; institutional, infrastructural and social constraints; and benefits such as increased income, positive livelihood impacts, job creation and security of energy supply as being critical to its development and resilience [4][5][6][7]. Accordingly, people perceive socioeconomic benefits as more important goals for implementing bioenergy projects than its environmental benefits, possibly because of the immediate and visible impact on their lives and communities [4].…”