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Background: The significance of sustainable energy development and the battle against climate change continues to grow each year. Countries exhibiting unsustainable fossil fuel consumption practices are actively pursuing strategies to decrease import dependency and mitigate pollution through innovative approaches in their energy policies. In this context, the countries aim to rely primarily on their own direct and indirect energy resources. Identifying and using new resources to secure clean energy represents one of the strategic approaches to achieving the established objective. The focus is on using resources that have the greatest potential and whose exploitation aligns with the economic capabilities of the countries. The Western Balkan countries have relied on substantial coal use for decades, resulting in significant pollution emissions, but they lack the capacity to invest in specific renewable energy alternatives. Upon examining the potential, it is evident that the most significant opportunity for acquiring clean energy in the region is found in the biomass sourced from forestry and agriculture. The exploitation of agroforestry systems facilitates carbon sequestration, in addition to various beneficial outcomes. The Western Balkan region boasts abundant forests and lands conducive to the implementation of agroforestry systems, which hold considerable, yet untapped, potential for clean energy generation. This paper aims to review and synthesize knowledge regarding agroforestry in the Western Balkan countries, assess the capacity of forest and agroforestry resources, and identify essential activities that can promote their more intensive yet sustainable use. Main text: The potential of using agroforestry as a source of bioenergy has not been sufficiently explored in the Western Balkans. Therefore, the research was conducted by examining the scientific literature and pertinent statistical indicators. The literature search covered 85 scientific references, encompassing conference proceedings, abstracts, and additional valuable resources. This expanded reference base provided a solid foundation for analyses and discussions on agroforestry in the Western Balkan region. Following that, an analysis of the forest potential and prior experiences in energy production from forest biomass in five Western Balkan countries was conducted and presented. The analysis revealed that the share of forests and forest biomass in the region's total territory is the lowest in Albania (37.5%) and the highest in Bosnia and Herzegovina (61.1%). This signifies a substantial biomass potential that is underused, while agroforestry systems exist in rural regions only in a few areas that satisfy the requirements of individual households. The systematic collection of biomass from the agroforestry system and its usage for clean energy generation are at a minimal level. Furthermore, the examination of the regulatory framework demonstrates the importance of developing policies and incentive mechanisms that recognize agroforestry as a method of obtaining biomass and ensuring food and water security. Therefore, a model of the supply chain and the main elements of the agroforestry–agriculture–energy nexus is proposed as a starting point for enhancing cross-sectoral cooperation and the sustainable use of forest resources. Conclusions: The main findings presented in this paper could benefit the Western Balkan countries seeking to enhance sustainable energy development approaches. Given the substantial forest and land resources and favorable climatic conditions in the Western Balkan region, forthcoming strategies must incorporate the formulation and implementation of effective agroforestry policies, as well as their integration into energy policy and sustainable development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast-growing wood plantations have been widely used as an alternative to the suppression of native vegetation. Forest wood can be enhanced by thermal modifications, which improve the wood's natural durability and dimensional stability. In addition, the wood's appearance is also enhanced, as its color is made darker, thus more similar to those of tropical woods, which increases its commercial value. However, such heat treatment needs precise process control tools, since it improves the physical properties of wood but reduces its mechanical resistance. Therefore, the use of artificial intelligence, as an artificial neural network (ANN), to conduct the thermal process, can be an alternative to overcome the laborious and detailed work needed to perform the treatment. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the physical, mechanical, and colorimetric properties of the ANN-assisted thermally modified woods of Eucalyptus urophylla and Pinus oocarpa, in order to predict their structural and esthetic properties. The thermal modification improved the physical properties but reduced the mechanical strength of the wood, from 150 ºC and above. Such treatment also promoted color changes. The ANN showed high precision in evaluating and monitoring the properties of the thermally modified woods, with a correlation coefficient for validation higher than 91%, coefficient of determination above 83%, and mean absolute percentage error below 12%. Furthermore, the root mean squared errors and mean absolute percentage error were lower than 13% for all evaluated parameters, showing high accuracy and normal distribution of errors. Therefore, ANN seems a promising alternative for the classification and characterization of thermally modified wood and can be implemented for final quality control of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood biomass fly ash can contribute to a more sustainable urban infrastructure, but requires efficient recycling strategies. This paper investigates the mechanical properties, durability, and eco-efficiency of non-structural concrete produced with 15% and 30% of portland cement replaced by wood biomass fly ash under combined effects of w/b ratio, ash content, and curing age. Two post-treatment to improve ash reactivity (grinding and grinding followed by re-calcining) were investigated. Concrete series with 15% ash presented higher relative compressive strength than 30% series regardless of the w/b ratio. Concrete mixtures produced with a w/b ratio of 0.35 did not reach the reference compressive strength regardless of the ash content. The ash re-calcining did not improve the concrete durability and mechanical properties. The carbonation increased in blended mixtures, but at acceptable levels. The absorption by capillarity increased overmuch in blended mixtures with re-calcined ash. The energy demand for re-calcining reduced the concrete eco-ecoefficiency. Concrete produced with 30% ash are less eco-efficient than those produced with 15%, except for w/b ratio of 0.35 due to the high cement consumption. These results can support industries to find innovative solutions for a broader wood ash valorization and support the development of a more sustainable urban infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combustion processes of brown coal, wood biomass, cardboard, and their mixtures in an oxidizing atmosphere at a heating rate of 20 K/min were studied within the framework of synchronous thermal analysis. The curves of weight loss and differential scanning calorimetry were obtained to describe the combustion processes of individual fuels and solid fuel mixtures with a weight ratio of 50 : 50. The main process parameters of combustion, such as ignition and burnout temperatures and a maximum rate of reaction were determined using analytical and numerical methods. The combustion indices of the fuels and their mixtures were established, and the kinetic parameters of the test processes were calculated. Based on the differential weight loss data, the nature of interactions between fuel mixture components was determined. The high volatile content of wood sawdust and cardboard affected a decrease in the ignition temperature of the mixtures by 15–18%, as compared to that of brown coal. The burning temperature of a mixture with the addition of wood sawdust decreased by 6.5%, and the addition of cardboard affected an increase in the burning temperature of the mixture by 27%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sluggish reaction kinetics in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the bottlenecks in next generation energy conversion systems. The integrated design strategy based on simultaneously constructing active sites and forming porous carbon network will address this concern by facilitating charge exchange, mass transfer and electron transportation. In this article, a three-dimensional integrated air electrode (Co-N@ACS) containing Co-N sites and hierarchically porous carbon is fabricated via growth of Co-doped ZIF-8 in activated wood substrate and synchronous pyrolysis. The optimized integrated air electrodes exhibit ultrahigh ORR activity (E1/2 = 0.86 V). Co-N sites provide outstanding ORR activity, and hierarchically porous structures facilitate oxygen diffusion and electrolyte penetration. Aqueous zinc-air battery assembled with Co-N@ACS possesses open-circuit voltage of 1.46 V, peak power density of 155 mW·cm−2 and long-term stability of 540 cycles (180 h). Solid-state zinc-air battery assembled with Co-N@ACS shows open-circuit voltage up to 1.36 V and low charge-discharge voltage gap (0.8 V). This design strategy paves the way for the conversion of wood biomass to integrated air electrodes and catalytically active carbon for next generation energy storage and conversion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Water productivity of 3-year-old Paulownia tomentosa x fortunei (Shan Tong) trees in a plantation at Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) ranged between 4.3 and 8.0 g l−1 over the vegetation period 2019. Central Asia is a region where forests are naturally scarce and additionally are under high anthropogenic pressure due to an unmet demand for timber and fuelwood. Cultivation of fast-growing trees as a means to satisfy this need may, therefore, be instrumental to forest conservation and/or restoration efforts. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Paulownia spp. as agroforestry or plantation tree. Paulownia is a deciduous tree genus of Chinese origin that is valued for its fast growth and light, yet sturdy wood, among other characteristics. This study investigated the water consumption, biomass production, and water productivity of Paulownia tomentosa x fortunei (trade name: Shan Tong) in a plantation setting on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) over the course of the vegetation period 2019. The method employed was Granier's thermal dissipation probe for measuring sap flow in trees. Estimated trunk biomass production per tree and season ranged from 1.52 to 3.41 kg, and the trees were found to consume between 433 and 613 l of water in total over the growing season. Water productivity, the amount of exploitable stem biomass produced per litre of water input, consequently ranged between 4.3 and 8.0 g l−1. As numerous studies suggest that the thermal dissipation method underestimates tree water consumption to varying degrees, these values likely represent the upper range of the species' water productivity. A literature review shows its water productivity to be higher than that of regionally employed tree species such as Populus euphratica or Elaeagnus angustifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass may ignite due to biological oxidation and chemical oxidation. If this phenomenon (spontaneous ignition) is controlled, it would be possible to produce biochar at a lower cost without the need for an external heat resource. We investigated if self-heating could be controlled by using sawdust and bark chips. When sawdust and bark chips were used under controlled conditions, the bark chips temperature increased to the torrefaction temperature. The ash content of bark chips was ~ 2%d.b. higher than that of sawdust; consequently, the inorganic substances contained in the bark chips might affect the self-heating. Self-heating was suppressed when inorganic substances were removed by washing with water. Therefore, the inorganic substances in the biomass might have affected self-heating. The inorganic element contents of the bark chips were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry before and after washing. The potassium content of the bark chips was reduced remarkably by washing, and there was a possible influence of potassium on self-heating. Finally, the effect of moisture content on self-heating was investigated to obtain stable reactivity. Thus, at a moisture content of 40%w.b., a steady self-heating behavior may be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to investigate the effects of biomass species on fermentable sugar production, with respect to both energy consumption and sugar yield, using the modified traditional mechanical system from Pulp & Paper Mills as a potential biorefinery step. The study explored four lignocellulosic biomass species including corn stover, alfalfa, white birch and black spruce during the pretreatment process with and without the addition of NaOH. This was followed by a disk refining pretreatment under various operating conditions of gap size and consistency through a pilot scaled disk refining system. The study characterized and analyzed the chemical components and sugar streams obtained from the biomasses using the thermochemical and refining pretreatment and also analyzed the energy consumption of the disk refining system. The results show that for all the biomasses, the thermochemical process mainly removed lignin and hemicelluloses through a steaming pretreatment. From low to high, the lignin contents of the four biomasses are shown as follows: corn stover, alfalfa, white birch and black spruce. With respect to the refining pretreatment, when the gap size remains constant, black spruce has the longest fibers while corn stover has the shortest. Moreover, using enzymatic hydrolysis to evaluate the sugar yield revealed that the thermochemical pretreatment increased the sugar yield in accordance with how much lignin was removed from each biomass as well as their final lignin content. However, the additional refining treatment had a greater effect on corn stover and alfalfa than on white birch and black spruce due to the reduction in fiber length. Therefore, with respect to existing mechanical refining equipment, the modified thermochemical disk refining pretreatment (TCDRP) has a greater effect on agricultural biomass and hardwood (white birch). Specifically, the sugar yield of the TCDRP corn stover was the highest (97.3%) when compared to the other biomasses, while its energy consumption was 196 kWh/ton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal decomposition of the mixtures of crushed coal and wood was experimentally studied in a temperature range from 400 to 1000°C. According to the results of the experiments, the possibility of using wood as an additive to mixed fuel based on coal to decrease the yield of sulfur oxides upon combustion in large- and small-scale power boilers was confirmed. With a decrease in the energy characteristics (calorific value) of these mixed fuels by no more than 9%, as compared with widely used homogeneous grade T coal, the environmental parameters were significantly improved on the combustion of a mixture of coal and wood. It was found that a significant synergistic effect on the sequestration of sulfur oxides was achieved during the formation of calcium and aluminum sulfates in the ash of mixed fuel due to the joint thermal decomposition of coal and wood particles at a wood fraction from 10 to 50% in the mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion (pyrolysis with oxygen) and pyrolysis without oxygen are two potential methods to convert wood into biofuels or biochemicals. To evaluate which is preponderant to convert wood into biofuels or biochemicals and provide guidance for optimization of product yield, the pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of typical hardwood (black walnut) are comparatively investigated in nitrogen and air employing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Two model-free methods including Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) method are applied to obtain the kinetic parameters, and a model-fitting method called Coats–Redfern (CR) method is employed to estimate the reaction mechanism. The black walnut pyrolysis in nitrogen may be divided into two stages with the threshold of conversion rate α = 0.4, but that in air may be separated into three stages with the thresholds of α = 0.25 and 0.7. The reaction mechanism for pyrolysis in nitrogen may be assumed random nucleation and its subsequent growth, but that in air may be assumed random nucleation and its subsequent growth followed by chemical reaction. The average activation energy and natural logarithm of pre-exponential factor for the whole pyrolysis process in nitrogen and air are 211.59 and 187.73 kJ/mol and 32.33 and 28.36 min−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we experimentally determined the conditions and characteristics of the ignition of the fuel mixture samples of various composition of crushed coal and wood in stationary air heated to high temperatures (from 600 to 1000°C). The heating of fuel mixtures under study that are promising for heat power engineering and their subsequent ignition and combustion were registered by using a high-speed video camera (image size is 1024 × 1024 pixels, frame rate is up to 105 frame/s), which ensures high reliability of the obtained results. The ignition delay times of all the studied mixtures based on lean and long-flame coals were established to decrease with an increase in the wood fraction. The limits of the stable (with small deviations of the delay time from the average values) ignition of weights of the studied mixtures are selected. At an increase in the wood waste fraction up to 50%, the decrease in the ignition delay time of mixed fuel based on grade T coal was found to be 11.2% at 600°C and 55.3% at 1000°C. For fuel mixtures based on grade D coal and wood, similar indicators are 17.6 and 64.3%. At temperatures typical for the furnace environment (approximately 1000°C), the ignition delay time for such fuels was determined to be less than 1 s, which is significantly less than the similar ignition characteristics of long-flame and lean-coal dust. The ash content of the fuel mixture is established to be a nonadditive characteristic relative to the ash content of the corresponding coal and wood. The increase in the wood fraction to 50% leads to a decrease in ash content to 10.44% for grade D coal and to 11.08% for grade T coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal decomposition of the mixtures of two types of dispersed coals and shredded wood in a temperature range until the complete pyrolysis of the organic matter of both components at different concentrations was experimentally studied in order to evaluate the prospects of using these fuels as composite fuels for large- and small-scale power plants (combustion in the furnaces of steam and hot-water boilers). It was established that the joint thermal decomposition of a mixture of coal and wood particles leads to a significant change in the pyrolysis temperature range and the release of anthropogenic gases (sulfur and nitrogen oxides) in the case of the high-temperature heating of such a mixture based on lean coal. A similar effect, but on a much smaller scale, was detected for a mixture based on long-flame coal. A hypothesis on the mechanism of sequestering sulfur and nitrogen oxides on the thermal decomposition of a mixture of lean coal and wood particles as a result of the interaction of intermediate gaseous and solid products of coal and wood pyrolysis in a temperature range to 1000°C was formulated. The possibility of using a mixture of crushed coal and wood as fuel for steam and hot water boilers was substantiated. With a certain decrease in the energy characteristics of such fuels compared to homogeneous coals, the environmental and economic characteristics of fuel burning processes were significantly improved. It was shown that a significant synergistic effect of co-combustion of particles of coal and wood is achieved only in certain coals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet chestnut has been for many centuries essential to human diet in large areas of Southern Europe. Its cultivation was abandoned in the last century, but is at present under restoration for socioeconomic reasons, representing also an opportunity for allocating woody residues to the energy sector. A little is known from the literature about sweet chestnut pruning, and the aim of the study was to assess the biomass yield and quality, the productivity and costs of the system as well as its energetic balance between inputs and outputs. The yield of recovered wood material amounted to between 22.3 tonnes of dry matter per hectare (tdw ha−1) and 33.3 tdw ha−1. Time consumption for pruning has been related to trees’ DBH, so detecting a linear relationship, although weak, between tree size and the time spent for maintenance. Productivity expressed as tdw per hour varied according to the site and the operating systems adopted accordingly. Costs for the whole chain, excluding transport to the plant facility amounted to 113 or to 430 € tdw−1 depending on the terrain relief and the presence of an underbrush to be cleaned. Wood chips distribution in size classes provided a material unsuitable for non-industrial due to the percentage of oversize particles, probably due to the high presence of twigs. The energy ratio resulted of 30:1 and 21:1 for the two sites. Transportation had the main impact in terms of energy, followed by extraction and chipping phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-rotation coppice (SRC) represents an important source of wood biomass. Many uncertainties create barriers to farmers establishing SRC plantations, especially under Mediterranean climate conditions. In this study, five species and respective genotypes were analyzed. The five species were Fraxinus angustifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia, Salix alba, Populus nigra (Limatola), and Populus × euroamericana, with the genotypes of the latter being Grimminge, Vesten, Hoogvorst, Muur. For the plantations studied, two different harvesting systems were replicated: the single machine pass, or cut-and-chip (CC); and the double machine pass, for which the tree are cut first, then chipped later (chip of stored trees CS). In the CC, fresh trees were harvested and chipped by Claas Jaguar 880. In the CS, dry trees were chipped by Farmi Forest CH 260. Within the same site, in climatic conditions and low-input management, the best result in terms of biomass yield was obtained from the black poplar Limatola. Both wood typologies and harvesting systems affected the chip quality. The disk chipper, when working on dried biomass, produced lower quality chips than the other chipping device in terms of particle size. In the chips obtained, there was an increase in the number of chips classified as being “larger size” and “oversized”, and a decrease in the percentage of those classified as “accept” (45-3 mm fraction). The chips obtained from dried trees were of better energy quality compared with the same biomass obtained from the fresh trees in terms of heating value and ash content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, small-scale distributed power generation is being intensively developed in Russia and abroad. Given the rise in the rates for the electric and thermal energy, the development of new territories, and the technical infeasible connection to the power supply system, one of the most promising variants of supplying isolated consumers with power is the application of wood biomass gasification technologies. Analysis of the studies in this sphere shows that considerable attention is paid to enhancing the gasification efficiency and ensuring the purity of the gas. These problems are solved using multistage gasification technology. This technology involves the pyrolysis and gasification in separated zones of the gasifier or individual interconnected reactors, which enables achieving the optimal conditions for the conversion of biomass at every separate stage. The major advantage of multistage gasifiers is the production of synthesis gas with a low content of tar. The article represents a review of technologies for multistage wood biomass gasification and comparison of the relevant gasifiers of various types; the basic single-stage and multistage wood biomass gasification technologies are examined and their technical characteristics and examples of their commercial implementation are provided. Analysis of the current situation shows that predominantly foreign multistage wood biomass gasification technologies/plants have found practical application. These technologies allow the produced syngas to be directly used in internal combustion engines and gas turbines without employing expensive auxiliary detarring plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of wood biomass as a fuel for domestic and industrial heating systems allows for a reduction of CO2 emissions at a global scale, but it may also result in worse local air quality conditions, due to their emissions of particulate matter. The aim of this study is to assess the actual trend of atmospheric pollution in a study area, assuming that all heating systems are replaced by small size biomass boilers linked to the buildings through district heating network. Ground level concentrations of particulate matter, emitted by different heating systems, are therefore evaluated through numerical simulations performed by means of an atmospheric dispersion model (Sirane). As a first step, we have compared the environmental impact of a woodchip boilers network with that given by the use of traditional heating systems, i.e. wood stoves and natural gas boilers. As a second step, we have analysed the impact of such a network taking into account different emission scenarios, related to different boilers operating conditions. Results show that the environmental performances of a woodchip boilers network can be optimized by combining it with other renewable sources of energy devoted to the supply of hot water. The adopted analysis methodology can be applied to other real or hypothetic punctual sources on the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar application is a widely investigated topic nowadays, and precisely described biochar parameters are key information for the understanding of its behaviour in soil and other media. Pore structure and surface properties determine biochar fate. However, there is lack of complex, investigative studies describing the influence of biomass properties and pyrolysis conditions on the pore structure of biochars. The aim of our study was to evaluate a wide range of gathered agriculture residues and elevated pyrolysis temperature on the biochar surface properties and pore composition, predicting biochar behaviour in the soil. The biomass of herbaceous and wood plants was treated by slow pyrolysis, with the final temperature ranging from 400 to 600 °C. Specific surface ranged from 124 to 511 cm g at wood biochar and from 3.19 to 192 cm g at herbaceous biochar. The main properties influencing biochar pore composition were increasing pyrolysis temperatures and lignin (logarithmically) and ash contents (linearly) of biomass. Increasing lignin contents and pyrolysis temperatures caused the highest biochar micropore volume. The total biochar pore volume was higher of wood biomass (0.08-0.3 cm g). Biochars of wood origin were characterised by skeletal density ranging from 1.479 to 2.015 cm g and herbaceous ones 1.506-1.943 cm g, and the envelope density reached 0.982 cm g at biochar of wheat grain origin and was generally higher at biochars of herbaceous origin. Density was not pyrolysis temperature dependent. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wood biomass obtained from four tree species: spruce, beech, willow and alder was studied. Sawdust obtained by sawing of wood was dried in a convective dryer at 80 °C, without drying-agent flow. The measurements taken with oven-drying method covered determination of initial moisture and its detailed changes during entire drying process. Both DSC curves and spectral data from infrared spectra registered in the classic MIR range were also used to monitor change in water content in studied samples within entire drying process. Results obtained suggest that the DSC curves can be efficiently used as a discriminant to distinguish dry and wet biomass samples, as significant differences within courses of specific DSC curves of woody biomass before and after drying process occurred. Calorimetrically measured values of enthalpy of evaporation of water and water content in studied biomass samples were directly proportional to high determination coefficient, i.e. 0.9653. Statistical analysis proved quantitative directly proportional correlation between content of water measured with oven-drying method and IR spectral data of studied samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of co-hydrofining of pyrolysis products and Fischer-Tropsch synthetic crude with petroleum diesel distillate at a pressure of 5-8 MPa and 330-370°C in the presence of a conventional CoMo-AlO hydrotreating catalyst has been studied, and the trends in the behavior of the physicochemical characteristics of the resulting products have been revealed. The feasibility of manufacturing class K5 diesel fuel containing the alternative components in amounts of 20 and 30 vol % by involving the pyrolysis products and synthetic crude, respectively, in the process has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical properties of liquid products from pyrolysis of wood biomass alone and its blend with residual fuel oil are compared. The characteristics of the liquid pyrolysis products with residual fuel oil in the mixed feedstock show a tendency to vary. Thermal conversion of combined sawdust and residual fuel oil in a 1:3 ratio provides the maximum yield and the best physicochemical properties of the liquid bioproduct. The possibility of utilizing the middle-distillate fractions of the pyrolysis products as diesel fuel components is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Biomass provides an attractive solution for residential heating systems based on renewable fuels, even though biomass-based domestic heating systems are recognized as significant particulate matter emitters; thus, a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used in the study to compare two different appliances: a wood stove and a pellet stove, both modeled according to the best available technologies definition. Methods: System boundaries of each scenario refer to a cradle-to-grave approach, including production, use and disposal of the heating appliance, as well as the preparation of biomass feedstock. The assessment of environmental impacts was performed assuming 1 MJ of thermal energy as the reference flow, considering the categories of particulate matter formation, human toxicity, climate change, and fossil fuel depletion, according to the ReCiPe 1.07 method. Finally, the comparison was extended to certain innovative heating systems in order to qualitatively evaluate potential improvements in residential heating performances. Results and discussion: The results show that the wood stove reaches the highest scores in the categories of particulate matter formation and negative effects for human toxicity, as a consequence of the stove's lower combustion efficiency, which would lead to a preference for the pellet stove. However, when climate change affecting human health and the ecosystem, and fossil depletion are considered, the choice appears more uncertain due to the energy consumption from the pelletizing step. Alternative technologies (e.g., solar panels in combination with a gas boiler) show better scores related to fine particles emission reduction, even if a worsening in other categories is observed. The results were validated by a sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: The study suggests that a LCA approach can support the choice of the best domestic heating system, helping to promote policy initiatives on a sound basis and to understand which are the main key levers to act for reducing the total environmental burdens of biomass-based heating appliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount and cost of wood biomass produced from the Kushida River basin in Japan were simulated under current and modified forestry scenarios by combining the forest ecosystem and cost calculation models at semi-compartment level; in addition, an analysis was carried out comparing the sustainable supply against heat demands in the basin. The forest ecosystem model (BGC-ES) simulates biomass growth, the effects of thinning and clear-cutting practices, and the amount of harvest from these practices. The cost calculation model estimates the cost of each stage of wood biomass production, which depends on the productivity of forestry machines and the forest location. The available amount was determined by an economic comparison between the energy density of wood chips and fossil fuel. The available wood chips were assumed to be converted to heat at a boiler plant. The current forestry scenario (thinning schedule, rotation length, and managed area) was not efficient for the production of wood chips. The economic available amount was <1 % of the potential production from the basin forests. Modified scenarios (arranging the thinning schedule to promote secondary growth, increasing the rotation length, and increasing the managed area) improved the economic availability of the basin forest (up to about 40 %). In these scenarios, the available amount indicated that saturation was determined by the maximum cost of the wood chips. The available amount of wood chip production that can be sustainably supplied by the basin forest was simulated and compared with the household and agricultural demands for heat in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective use of biomass is emerging in various agro-industries, offering new avenues for sustainable regional development. A case analysis is done on a wood industrial cluster in Maniwa, Japan to analyze the drivers and barriers for community-based actions in improving environmental performance of small businesses operating in the cluster. Wood processing businesses in Maniwa generate wastes such as wood trimmings and shavings. Community-based actions of various businesses in the supply chain realized the commercial value in such waste products and explored options of wood such as biomass fuel, extraction of ethanol, wood-based concrete and organic strawberry farming. Various technologies enabled the process to be carried out, and knowledge/information was brought in by local research institutes. Taking leadership and participation by business in community-based social networks increased the availability of market information and lowered its cost. It also led them to reach collective decisions and implement actions together. Evidences from a strength, weakness, opportunities and potential analysis of the Maniwa wood cluster revealed that stimulating community-based actions, providing enabling technologies, creation of social capital and policy integration are the pillars for transforming local industrial clusters into eco-friendly industrial clusters. Technical facts, policy experiences and findings suggest that grouping of biomass-based industries and developing joint actions for sound material flow represent a promising strategy to promote sustainable production and consumption while providing a new model for environment friendly regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon storage in aboveground tree biomass and soil organic matter (in depth of A layer development i.e., up to 20 cm) was studied in 22–32 year-old post-mining sites in the northwest of the Czech Republic. Four replicated sites afforested with different tree species (spruce, pine, larch, oak, lime or alder) were compared with sites left to natural regeneration which were dominated by aspen, birch and willow. No topsoil was applied at the sites; hence carbon accumulation resulted from in situ soil development on alkaline tertiary clays that were dumped on the heaps. In aboveground tree biomass, carbon storage ranged from 17.0 ± 5.9 (mean ± SEM) to 67.6 ± 5.9 t ha−1 and the rate of C accumulation increased from 0.60 ± 0.09 to 2.31 ± 0.23 t ha−1 year−1 (natural regeneration < pine < spruce < oak < lime < alder < larch). Carbon storage in soil organic matter varied from 4.5 ± 3.7 to 38.0 ± 7.1 t ha−1 and the rate of C accumulation in soil organic matter increased from 0.15 ± 0.05 to 1.28 ± 0.34 t ha−1 year−1 at sites in the order: natural regeneration < spruce < pine, oak < larch < alder < lime. Carbon storage in the soil was positively correlated with aboveground tree biomass. Soil carbon was equivalent to 98.1% of the carbon found in aboveground tree biomass at lime dominated sites, but only 21.8% at sites with natural regeneration. No significant correlation was found between C storage in soil and aboveground litter input. Total soil carbon storage was correlated positively and significantly with earthworm density, and occurrence of earthworm cast in topsoil, which indicated that bioturbation could play an important role in soil carbon storage. Hence, not only restoring of wood production, but also restoring of soil community is critical for C storage in soil and whole ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]