Forest bioenergy feedstock in Lithuania – Renewable energy goals and the use of forest resources

Pang, Xi; Trubins, Renats; Lekavičius, Vidas; Galinis, Arvydas; Mozgeris, Gintautas; Kulbokas, Gintaras; Mörtberg, Ulla

doi:10.1016/j.esr.2019.04.004

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The potential effects of increased domestic wood use on employment, the economic performance of national forestry, and carbon sequestration were analyzed using the European Forest Information Scenario Model (EFISCEN) [44]. Forest biomass potential for Lithuania's energy pathways was discussed using the Landscape simulation and Ecological Assessment tool and the modeling framework for medium-to long-term energy system planning, energy policy analysis, and scenario development (MESSAGE) [45]. To the best of our knowledge, the national decision support system-driven studies did not consider the effects of climate change on forest growth and forestry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Pattern of Climate Change Effects on Lithuanian Forestry

Mozgeris

Brukas

Pivoriūnas

et al. 2019

Forests

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Research Highlights: Validating modelling approach which combines global framework conditions in the form of climate and policy scenarios with the use of forest decision support system to assess climate change impacts on the sustainability of forest management. Background and Objectives: Forests and forestry have been confirmed to be sensitive to climate. On the other hand, human efforts to mitigate climate change influence forests and forest management. To facilitate the evaluation of future sustainability of forest management, decision support systems are applied. Our aims are to: (1) Adopt and validate decision support tool to incorporate climate change and its mitigation impacts on forest growth, global timber demands and prices for simulating future trends of forest ecosystem services in Lithuania, (2) determine the magnitude and spatial patterns of climate change effects on Lithuanian forests and forest management in the future, supposing that current forestry practices are continued. Materials and Methods: Upgraded version of Lithuanian forestry simulator Kupolis was used to model the development of all forests in the country until 2120 under management conditions of three climate change scenarios. Selected stand-level forest and forest management characteristics were aggregated to the level of regional branches of the State Forest Enterprise and analyzed for the spatial and temporal patterns of climate change effects. Results: Increased forest growth under a warmer future climate resulted in larger tree dimensions, volumes of growing stock, naturally dying trees, harvested assortments, and also higher profits from forestry activities. Negative impacts were detected for the share of broadleaved tree species in the standing volume and the tree species diversity. Climate change effects resulted in spatially clustered patterns-increasing stand productivity, and amounts of harvested timber were concentrated in the regions with dominating coniferous species, while the same areas were exposed to negative dynamics of biodiversity-related forest attributes. Current forest characteristics explained 70% or more of the variance of climate change effects on key forest and forest management attributes. Conclusions: Using forest decision support systems, climate change scenarios and considering the balance of delivered ecosystem services is suggested as a methodological framework for validating forest management alternatives aiming for more adaptiveness in Lithuanian forestry.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Pattern of Climate Change Effects on Lithuanian Forestry

Mozgeris

Brukas

Pivoriūnas

et al. 2019

Forests

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“…Rather than looking at a steady-state situation of the forest, a method to assess the available biomass potential should look into changes in the biomass quantity over time as well as changes in the geographical location of biomass. Several studies can be found in the international literature, simulating changes in the supply of biomass-based on stand age, fire salvage or terrain [85][86][87][88]. If research wants to inform investors and if the location is pre-defined, high resolution of the geographical area and theoretical biomass potential should be combined to assess what is the available biomass potential.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on the Potential of Forest Biomass for Bioenergy in Australia

et al. 2020

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The use of forest biomass for bioenergy in Australia represents only 1% of total energy production but is being recognized for having the potential to deliver low-cost and low-emission, renewable energy solutions. This review addresses the potential of forest biomass for bioenergy production in Australia relative to the amount of biomass energy measures available for production, harvest and transport, conversion, distribution and emission. Thirty-Five Australian studies on forest biomass for bioenergy are reviewed and categorized under five hierarchical terms delimiting the level of assessment on the biomass potential. Most of these studies assess the amount of biomass at a production level using measures such as the allometric volume equation and form factor assumptions linked to forest inventory data or applied in-field weighing of samples to predict the theoretical potential of forest biomass across an area or region. However, when estimating the potential of forest biomass for bioenergy production, it is essential to consider the entire supply chain that includes many limitations and reductions on the recovery of the forest biomass from production in the field to distribution to the network. This review reiterated definitions for theoretical, available, technological, economic and environmental biomass potential and identified missing links between them in the Australian literature. There is a need for further research on the forest biomass potential to explore lower cost and lowest net emission solutions as a replacement to fossil resources for energy production in Australia but methods the could provide promising solutions are available and can be applied to address this gap.

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“…For Lithuania, the increased use of renewables in the energy sector in place of natural gas means national energy independence. Therefore, forest biomass for energy is considered to have a high potential to remain one of the most important local renewable energy resources in the future [77].…”

Section: Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The future intensity of utilization of forest biomass for energy production will also depend on alternative uses of the forest biomass and competition with other types of fuels in Lithuania. Pang and wood processing create several distinct types of forest bioenergy feedstock [77]. Firstly, harvested stemwood can be consumed for fuel directly, for example, as solid-piece firewood.…”

Section: Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within the energy pathways, a steep increase in biomass consumption is envisaged between 2040 and 2050. This can be explained by the alignment of RES targets with the EU Energy Roadmap, along with a gradual increase in energy demand and a changing technology structure due to obsolescence of the current power plants, which makes new investments in energy generation from biomass more attractive [77]. Sustainable use of forest biomass for energy production involves a number of aspects.…”

Section: Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lithuanian forest biomass resources: legal, economic and ecological aspects of their use and potential

Varnagirytė–Kabašinskiene

Lukminė

Mizaras

et al. 2019

Energ Sustain Soc

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The development of bioenergy markets is beneficial from a climate perspective and helps ensure sustainable forest management both locally and globally. This study aimed to provide an overview of the current state of Lithuanian forest biomass resources with a particular focus on the legal, economic and ecological aspects of forest biomass use for energy and to identify the lessons that should be learned from the history of biomass introduction in the country's energy sector. These experiences and lessons are valuable both nationally and internationally, where good practices and challenges for the introduction and development of forest biomass for energy production are revealed. We examined the question of whether regulatory drivers in the energy sector can increase forest biomass use for energy production and contribute to sustainable development of Lithuania. To answer this question, we described the legal and market instruments regulating forest biomass use for energy production, the forestry sector and renewable energy policy in Lithuania, the current and potential amount of forest biomass available for energy production and ecological considerations relating to forest biomass use for energy. In Lithuania, forest biomass resources are strategically important for the renewable energy sector. The National Energy Strategy of Lithuania aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources, including forest biomass, within the total energy consumption, with targets of 30% in 2020, 45% in 2030 and 80% in 2050. Lithuania successfully achieved the target of EU legislation on renewables in 2015 ahead of the obligation to achieve it in 2020. Renewable energy is mainly used in heating, as well as in the electricity and transport sectors. This has resulted in a significant price reduction for end users due to the increased use of biomass, mainly local forest biomass, for heat energy production and in the emergence of a biofuel exchange, which acts as a system of biomass auctions that to some extent prevent unjustified price increases. Legislation developed for the energy biomass market in Lithuania allows efficient restructuring of the energy sector, especially for heat production. The Lithuanian energy sector has already successfully replaced imported and relatively expensive natural gas with locally available cheaper renewable energy sources (RES). Compliance with formal environmental regulations is required to protect the soil, ground vegetation, understory and biodiversity during commercial tree harvesting. Lithuania has basic guidelines for the use of wood ash as a compensatory fertiliser, with strict requirements for the chemical quality of wood ash.

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Forest bioenergy feedstock in Lithuania – Renewable energy goals and the use of forest resources

Cited by 20 publications

References 17 publications

Spatial Pattern of Climate Change Effects on Lithuanian Forestry

Spatial Pattern of Climate Change Effects on Lithuanian Forestry

A Review on the Potential of Forest Biomass for Bioenergy in Australia

Lithuanian forest biomass resources: legal, economic and ecological aspects of their use and potential

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