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Acacia mearnsii, an invasive alien species, is the main resource identified for the energy transition initiated on Reunion Island. It is, therefore, critical to identify the existent forest stands within the island's large tropical forest area and to determine which of these stands are accessible for logging operations. In this study, a very high-spatial-resolution image was used to map forest (Acacia mearnsii, Acacia heterophylla, Cryptomeria japonica) and non-forest land cover. To identify the accessible forest stands, we developed a geographic information system (GIS) processing chain, accounting for barriers, the distribution of slopes, and the location of forest roads. User-defined parameters, such as the slope threshold and maximal distance to forest roads, allow different scenarios to be explored. The classification yields an overall accuracy of 88% and a Kappa index of 0.86 and highlights the areas occupied by the different types of Acacia. By applying the GIS processing chain for a standard scenario, the results show that only 19% of the initial study area of 637 ha of Acacia mearnsii patches is suitable for exploitation. In conclusion, our results demonstrate how remote sensing (RS) and GIS can be combined to provide valuable tools for forest managers to design management plans for invasive alien forest species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calorific value is a parameter of palm biomass to determine its energy value. Extractives of wood is one of the factors that affect the calorific value. This study aimed to prove the positive effect of extractives on increasing calorific value by identifying the effect of adding extractives on low calorific value biomass. The study used three species wood energy, i.e., Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, and Leucaena leucocephala. The soxhlet extraction was carried out to isolate extractives from sample. The calorific value sample and residue after extraction were analyzed to evaluate the changes of calorific value due to loss of extractives. The effect of extractives on the calorific value was confirmed by adding wood extractives to the palm biomass. The results showed that the extraction process reduced calorific value of residue ranging from 2.63 to 5.88%, and the bark it ranged from 5.52 to 6.70%. The addition of wood extractives to palm biomass increased the calorific value about 5.86-10.33%, while the addition of extractives from bark increase the calorific value by 6.45-9.05%. Based on the results of these studies prove that extractives have a positive effect on increasing the calorific value and can be used as an additive to increase the calorific value of biomass.

Italy is the first importer of wood-energy biomass worldwide, with tons of timber illegally imported every year and significant negative socio-economic and environmental consequences. A Living Lab was established involving 25 among stakeholders and key informants of the wood-energy supply chain in order to foster a participatory and open assessment of the impact of digital technology on traceability. A Socio-Cyber-Physical System (SCPS) approach was adopted to map entities, activities and relationships at stake in the wood-energy sector, aimed to analyse impacts of the introduction of digital technologies. Participatory activities allowed to identify both positive and negative impacts of the digitalisation process in the wood-energy sector. What emerged from the analysis is that, to orient digitalisation towards a real path to sustainability in the Italian wood-energy sector, a holistic approach taking into account all the social, geographical and environmental elements at stake is strongly needed.

The paper presents the results of a research on wood fuels used for heating in households in the Republic of Srpska (RS). The main objective of this research was to determine the real consumption of wood fuels in households in the Republic of Srpska using the internationally recognized WISDOM methodology, as well as to compare the obtained results with the official statistical data. In order to conduct the research and obtain a relevant sample, the Republic of Srpska was divided into six mesoregions. The research was conducted in 3,149 households, namely 1,380 urban and 1,769 other households. The results indicated that firewood and other wood fuels were used in 334,761 households. Analyzing the differences between the results obtained using the WISDOM methodology and the official statistical data for the Republic of Srpska, it can be concluded that the consumption of firewood was on average 3.41 times higher compared to the official statistical data. Results of similar research projects implemented in the surrounding countries showed similar trends. The paper suggests the necessity of adopting a new approach and comprehensive research in surveys conducted by official institutions.

This work is devoted to the evaluation of the performance of a typical fired-wood oven commonly used in the rotisserie sector in Burkina Faso. The methodology used is based on the energy balance of the oven. For this purpose, 20 liters of water were heated up to 90 °C. The difference in water temperature at the start and at the end of the experiment makes it possible to calculate the amount of energy consumed by the load. The temperatures of the walls as well as that of the ambient were recorded to evaluate the losses by convection towards the environment. The losses through the fumes have been estimated from the energy balance. The results show that the dominant losses are those of fumes (about 55 % of the energy consumed). The losses through the walls are relatively large (26 %). The efficiency of the oven is around 19 %, which is very low. These results show that these equipment are inefficient and contribute significantly to the waste of wood at the national level.

Italy is the first importer of wood-energy biomass worldwide, with tons of timber illegally imported every year and significant negative socio-economic and environmental consequences. A Living Lab was established involving 25 among stakeholders and key informants of the wood-energy supply chain in order to foster a participatory and open assessment of the impact of digital technology on traceability. A Socio-Cyber-Physical System (SCPS) approach was adopted to map entities, activities and relationships at stake in the wood-energy sector, aimed to analyse impacts of the introduction of digital technologies. Participatory activities allowed to identify both positive and negative impacts of the digitalisation process in the wood-energy sector. What emerged from the analysis is that, to orient digitalisation towards a real path to sustainability in the Italian wood-energy sector, a holistic approach taking into account all the social, geographical and environmental elements at stake is strongly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry provides economic, social and environmental benefits along with various forest products and services. It also offers the platform for economies to develop their industrial and trade base; and link forestry and economic growth of countries intended to be explore in this study. For empirical analysis, data set of 155 countries is employed for 15 years’ time-period from 1999-2013, where the estimation technique is system GMM for the dynamic panel data model. Empirical results demonstrate that forest resources and tourism are important for growth of economies. It is recommended that forest area should be preserved to enjoy its numerous economic and social benefits and to have clean and safe environment.

Copyright of Bulletin of the Faculty of Forestry / Glasnik Šumarskog Fakulteta is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the greatest challenges when addressing issues in complex social-ecological systems (SES), is the need for an efficient interdisciplinary framework when large-magnitude social and ecological disturbances occur. Teams comprising of scientists from different backgrounds and disciplines are frequently called upon to propose research methods and results that can be useful for policy and decision makers. However, most of the outcomes from these pluri-disciplinary teams appear extremely difficult to implement within a bigger picture because concepts, hypotheses, methods, and results are specific to each discipline. Here, we propose a reverseengineering (RE) method to define the scientific needs that could help policy makers and citizens to assess the impacts of socioeconomic "disruptors" on social-ecological systems. We present this method using the example of an ongoing wood biomass energy plant (Gardanne) in the French Mediterranean region. In the Mediterranean region, species diversity is high, the forest cover is ample, but difficult access and low forest productivity make any biomass policy an ecological and social disruption. Our method is based on three complementary approaches to (1) describe the social-ecosystems, (2) draw up a map of interactions between actors and the impacts on the ecosystem, and (3) identify relevant questions needed for a global analysis of the impacts and potentialities of adaptation of actors and the ecosystems to the perturbation and the connections needed between the different disciplines. Our analysis showed that knowledge gaps have to be filled to assess forest resource vulnerability and better estimate how the different resource used (solid wood, biomass, landscape) competed together. Finally, we discuss how this method could be integrated into a broader transdisciplinary work allowing a coproduction of knowledge and solutions on a SES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on two main research topics: the situation in the field of wood energy efficiency utilization in households in the region of Southwestern Serbia, and econometric modelling of wood energy consumption dependent on the size of the heating surface, the existence of thermal insulation on residential buildings, the age of heating appliances and moisture content of wood fuels. The results of the conducted research showed that the consumption of wood energy in most household's ranges between 300 and 400 kWh/m2. This is considered energy inefficient. Although in the majority of households the size of the heating surface ranges between just 20 and 80 m2, exactly in these households the highest and the most inefficient consumption of wood energy expressed in kWh/m2 was registered. The first reason for the high consumption of wood energy is the fact that only 29% of residential buildings have thermal insulation, while 71% do not have any thermal insulation. Additionally, the wide diffusion of heating appliances aging over ten years and firewood with the average moisture content of 37% further contribute to such unfavourable situation in terms of energy efficiency. The parameters of the obtained econometric model of wood energy consumption clearly show that the greatest savings in the consumption of wood energy in the short term could be obtained by improving the condition of the thermal insulation of the residential buildings, replacing the old heating appliances with the new and the more efficient ones, as well as by using drier firewood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and Development in the field of wood science in Brazil began in the mid-1900s and involved a few laboratories of research institutions and universities. There was no R&D strategy for the area at the time. Forestry Engineering Courses, created in the 1960s, basically graduated silviculturists. In the early 1970s the only laboratory, in the area of wood science of the Forest Engineering Course, was wood anatomy. In the same decade, the creation of the FUPEF, the Freiburg Agreement and the Post-Graduation Course were important factors to promote R&D related to wood. Agreements as well as cooperation with the private sector were important for the formation of critic mass for the installation and operation of laboratories in the area. To attend the market demand, it was since the beginning, one of the priorities in the design of R&D projects in the area of Technology and Use of Forest Products. Over the years, professors from various disciplines, including wood anatomy, characterization and quality, standardization and certification, structural applications and products, drying, biodegradation and preservation, wood panels, energy, supply and logistics, chemistry, pulp and paper, have implemented several projects. A large part of the R&D program considered cooperation agreements and national and international partnerships. Future topics in the area of wood science focus on innovation. R&D will increasingly involve aspects related to nanotechnology, process automation, value-added products, reduction of energy consumption, and mitigation of environmental impacts in processing and use, and improvement of process efficiency. The main objective of the work will be to increase productivity to guarantee the sustainability and competitiveness of the Brazilian forestry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare sustainably managed with unmanaged forests in terms of their contribution to climate change mitigation based on published data. For sustainably managed forests, accounting of carbon (C) storage based on ecosystem biomass and products as required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is not sufficient to quantify their contribution to climate change mitigation. The ultimate value of biomass is its use for biomaterials and bioenergy. Taking Germany as an example, we show that the average removals of wood from managed forests are higher than stated by official reports, ranging between 56 and 86 mill. m3 year−1 due to the unrecorded harvest of firewood. We find that removals from one hectare can substitute 0.87 m3 ha−1 year−1 of diesel, or 7.4 MWh ha−1 year−1, taking into account the unrecorded firewood, the use of fuel for harvesting and processing, and the efficiency of energy conversion. Energy substitution ranges between 1.9 and 2.2 t CO2 equiv. ha−1 year−1 depending on the type of fossil fuel production. Including bioenergy and carbon storage, the total mitigation effect of managed forest ranges between 3.2 and 3.5 t CO2 equiv. ha−1 year−1. This is more than previously reported because of the full accounting of bioenergy. Unmanaged nature conservation forests contribute via C storage only about 0.37 t CO2 equiv. ha−1 year−1 to climate change mitigation. There is no fossil fuel substitution. Therefore, taking forests out of management reduces climate change mitigation benefits substantially. There should be a mitigation cost for taking forest out of management in Central Europe. Since the energy sector is rewarded for the climate benefits of bioenergy, and not the forest sector, we propose that a CO2 tax is used to award the contribution of forest management to fossil fuel substitution and climate change mitigation. This would stimulate the production of wood for products and energy substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Wood Science / Revista Ciência da Madeira is the property of Brazilian Journal of Wood Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Methods to assess wood-based bioenergy projects have tended to focus on technological and physical constraints. Less is known about how longer-term environmental, economic, and social systems—the three pillars of sustainable development—have influenced technological development in the context of woody biomass energy. This research offers new methods for assessing the sustainability of wood-based energy projects by combining spatial analysis, semi-structured interviews, and archival data analysis. By integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, this project offers ways to understand how social and environmental dynamics from the past shape technological development in the future. A propensity analysis of biomass energy plants in Michigan, USA was performed using US Census data grouped by social, economic, and environmental categories. This quantitative analysis helped to characterize community and landscape types in which woody biomass plants were developed in Michigan in the late-twentieth century. To help illustrate some of the often-hidden social and political dimensions of energy development, such as access to decision-making and attitudes toward bioenergy projects, transcripts of public hearings, media coverage, and other archival sources were examined, and 30 stakeholder interviews were conducted. By integrating these qualitative and quantitative approaches, this paper aims to provide a more comprehensive approach to assessing the sustainability of wood-based biofuel technologies.

A range of energy sources are used by households across the globe, including electricity, gas, solar, and wood. While there is a large body of international research aimed at understanding household energy use in general, very few studies have focused on the specific topic of residential firewood consumption. In Australia, empirical research to investigate and quantify residential firewood consumption is scarce and outdated, despite the importance of such research for better understanding overall household energy costs and carbon emissions. Unlike other power sources, such as electricity, gas and solar, firewood consumption is not systematically monitored or measured in an objective way, thereby making it difficult to obtain accurate data on the amount of firewood consumed in the residential sector. To address this data gap, the current study used survey data from a sample of 4844 households (including 1168 firewood users) to explore what socio-demographic, dwelling-related and behavioural factors were important for predicting the amount of firewood consumed by Australian households. The results revealed that a range of variables—including geographical location, dwelling type, the number of wood-fired appliances per household, and behavioural factors such as the purpose, timing, frequency, and duration of firewood use—were key determinants of residential firewood consumption in Australia, as self-reported by households. Together, these findings underscore the value of measuring not only geographical and location-based factors in household surveys, but also a range of socio-demographic, dwelling-related, and behavioural variables. By doing so, self-report data collected through surveys is likely to better predict the amount of residential firewood consumption reported (or estimated) by households. Overall, this study makes an important and timely contribution to the literature by demonstrating how social science methods such as household surveys can help improve current estimates of residential firewood consumption used to inform government policy, planning, and decision-making for the future.

This paper is a combination of rasters, quantitative and qualitative data on the woodfuel supply system of an eastern city of Senegal (Bakel). It questions the possibilities of supply in the domestic energy sector while insisting on the spatial organization of this offer with respect to a growing city and more and more demanding in terms of choice, quantity and quality of the type of fuel used. The analysis is discussed in terms of comparison in order to determine the explanatory factors of the location and dynamics of woodfuels to the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residential sector accounts for about half of annual wood energy consumption in Germany. We applied a left-censored Tobit model to a cross-sectional dataset to quantify factors affecting household-level German residential wood energy consumption in years 2005, 2010 and 2014. Explanatory variables distinguished between (1) heating technology, dwelling characteristics and alternative energies; (2) woody biomass accessibility and weather; as well as (3) households' socio demographic characteristics. Results show that wood energy consuming households with central heaters used an additional 0.83–1.82 m³ year−1 of wood. Households' wood energy consumption showed a positive correlation with residence area and elastic responses to year of building construction. Greater elasticities in wood energy consumption were found when alternative energy prices exceeded US$ 1,050-1,330 per ton of oil-equivalent net calorific value. Local accessibility of woody biomass measured through forest ownership and forest density was associated with greater wood for energy consumption by an average 0.27–0.52 m3 year−1 and 0.13–0.25 m3 year−1, respectively. In addition, wood energy consumption increased proportionally with increasing rurality. Elasticity of household wood energy consumption with respect to heating degree days was estimated at 0.83–1.15. Among demographic variables, households at lower and higher income levels exhibited greater amounts of wood energy consumption. Results provide evidence that greater adoption of central wood energy heaters, price competitiveness of wood energy over alternative energies, and improving access to wood energy sources can lead to greater residential wood energy consumption in Germany. • Household-level analysis of wood energy consumption in Germany. • Central heaters facilitate greater wood energy consumption. • Households in newer buildings consumed less wood energy. • Temperature and competing energy prices strongly associated with wood energy use. • Rurality and accessibility strongly associated with wood energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a partial market equilibrium framework, this study evaluated the US regional timber and wood products market impacts of a projected national level expansion in wood biomass consumption for energy. By restricting logging residue use, we focus on the impacts on timber harvests and paper production from increased pulpwood consumption and focus on the impacts on lumber production from increased mill residue consumption. Analyses showed that increased consumption of wood for energy led to diversion of about 37 million m3 of pulpwood away from pulpwood-using traditional products (e.g., panels and paper), reducing production and net exports of paper and paperboard by up to 3 million tonnes. Increased wood energy consumption also led to increased timber harvests (up to 40 million m³ or 8 percent), increased prices (up to 31 percent), and increased lumber production and net exports by up to 9 million m3. The South was projected to supply the majority of the energy feedstock (47 m³ or 77 percent) and to experience the resultant effects on forests and wood products sectors. The findings highlight the importance of market linkages at local, national, and global levels in evaluating the impacts of increased wood energy consumption and the importance of identifying feedstock sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic and social importance of forests is the basis of their degradation across the planet. One of the causes of the destruction of forests, especially in developing countries, is the use of wood as an energy source. This article is based on a series of surveys conducted in Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secondary data collected through documentation helped put into perspective the information from surveys. Survey results show that the production of wood energy consumed in Kinshasa is an activity of young men. Carbonization is performed 3.47 times per quarter for 40 charcoal bags per production cycle. In Kinshasa and Kongo Central, the energy mix is 60% dominated by wood energy. Households using firewood consider charcoal as the form of energy to which they should move towards, while those using charcoal wish to have electricity. Promoting modern energy sources such as hydro-electricity and gas can be undertaken at low cost in urban areas, while the improved furnaces and stoves can be promoted in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry provides economic, social and environmental benefits along with various forest products and services. It also offers the platform for economies to develop their industrial and trade base; and link forestry and economic growth of countries intended to be explore in this study. For empirical analysis, data set of 155 countries is employed for 15 years' time-period from 1999-2013, where the estimation technique is system GMM for the dynamic panel data model. Empirical results demonstrate that forest resources and tourism are important for growth of economies. It is recommended that forest area should be preserved to enjoy its numerous economic and social benefits and to have clean and safe environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores social acceptance of different wood-based energy applications in the Great Lakes region in the Upper Midwest, USA. Specifically, the paper examines attitudes and perceptions towards residential wood burning, commercial-scale wood boilers for heat, combined heat and power (CHP) facilities, and industrial power generation in Michigan. In 2021, we conducted a state-wide survey (n = 207) and 30 semi-structured interviews with individuals representing different stakeholder perspectives, including regulatory agencies, biomass industry leaders, non-governmental organizations and scientists who have shaped biomass debates, forest products workers, and Michigan residents. Results suggest that the depth of an individual's knowledge about different types of wood energy applications generally led to more positive attitudes, particularly for smaller-scale uses of wood for heat. Despite perceived environmental, economic, and human health risks of using wood for different energy applications, across all stakeholder groups, 70% of respondents perceived environmental benefits, 61% perceived economic benefits, and 57% perceived health benefits. Changing economic and environmental conditions in different parts of the state contributed to people's attitudes toward different forms of wood energy and their perceptions of associated risks and benefits. A key recommendation of this study is that policy-makers and energy developers seek to understand the complex factors that influence social acceptance when planning for the adoption of new types of wood-based bioenergy technologies. • Perceptions of risks and benefits are critical to understanding social acceptance of wood-based bioenergy technologies. • Knowledge about wood-based energy technologies generally led to more favorable attitudes towards wood energy. • Residents who lived within 50 miles of a biomass facility did not necessarily have more knowledge about wood energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental crops of Miscanthus x giganteus were planted in three contrasting sites in Chile's south central to evaluate its growth and energy potential. In the second year of growth, the crop exhibited large differences among sites regarding height (52.1 to 158.2 cm), biomass yield (1.1 to 9.0 Mg ha-1), ash content (3.8 to 9.6%) and calorific value (16.64 to 18.14 MJ kg-1). The chemical composition of the biomass indicated cellulose 36%, hemicellulose 22.3% and lignin 26.9%. Elemental analysis indicated C and H content of 41.9% and 6.6% respectively. Therefore, Miscanthus x giganteus offers suitable attributes to be used for energy generation in Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the impact of wood energy use under underutilized conditions of wood resources: the impact on promotion of forest maintenance practices (FMPs), user costs, and local economies, using the case of a local initiative in Nishiwaga, Iwate, Japan. We conducted two main analyses: resource and economic assessment. For resource assessment, we investigate whether wood supply from FMP residue is sufficient to sustainably satisfy new demand created by a local initiative in Nishiwaga, and in how much forest area can FMPs be performed to satisfy the demand. These questions are analyzed by linear programming. Regarding economic assessment, we investigate whether replacement of fossil fuel by wood energy brings economic benefit to a user and local economy using input-output analysis. Our overall findings demonstrated that the use of wood energy under underutilized situations can lead to an increase of implementations of FMPs and of domestic wood resource supplies from a short-term perspective that comes from residues of the FMPs. We also found that wood energy consumption introduces co-benefits in terms of reduced heating costs for users and a larger economic impact on the local economy than fossil fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological characteristics such as high moisture content and low bulk density affect the competitiveness of forest biomass and limit their participation in the national energy matrix. The objective of this study was to determine and compare these quality indicators in chips and firewood of Pinus sp., Eucalyptus sp. and mixtures. One hundred and thirty-seven samples were collected at the time of receipt by the consumer industries, 101 in the form of chips and 36 in the form of firewood. The bulk density of the chips and moisture content of the Pinus sp. are higher than those obtained for Eucalyptus sp. biomass. Even though the larger moisture content of Pinus sp. chips, the anhydrous specific gravity is greater than that founded for Eucalyptus sp. chips. The firewood has significantly higher moisture content than chips only for Pinus sp. The moisture content is near of found by several authors for stand or recent felled trees. Over time, this characteristic is constant, indicating the absence of practices as drying to improve the biomass quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land issues, exploitation of natural resources, and Forests of Rural Communities in the periphery of Kinshasa, DRC. Peri-urban forests are under strong anthropic pressure. Any activity needs a previous identification of stakeholders, landscape perception, socio-economic trends in local communities and their relationships with land and natural resources. Kinshasa (capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC) is a 10 millions inhabitants city with rapid growth and increasing impacts on surrounding villages linked with forest natural resources. This paper describes the relationship amongst local communities stakeholders and their relations with land areas and wood resources. Two areas surrounding Kinshasa (Bas-Congo and Bateke Plateaux) are considered as major fuel-wood and charcoal supply zones for the city. Those two areas are different in terms of land pressure (very high in Bas-Congo and focused on riparian forests on Bateke Plateaux), but show the same pattern of overuse of the forest and woody natural resources. In both areas, local management of forest resources by the traditional authorities (heads of village or lineage) has failed. Local population willingness for reforestation and forest restoration activities is much more important in Bas-Congo than on Bateke Plateaux. In both areas, shifting cultivation due to slash and burn practices for agricultural and charcoal practices are more and more quick. This has strong negative impact on the potential of regeneration process with local forest species. Sustainability of forest natural resources management by communities is discussed in regard to the on going negotiations on community based forest management regulations.

Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) is the practice of cultivating fast-growing tree species mainly for the production of biomass. In Ireland, SRF rotation lengths are less than 20 years. SRF forest cover is expected to increase in response to the increasing demand for fibre products and renewable energy targets set by the European Union. Although Irish policy supports the establishment of SRF, prior research identified Irish forest industry concerns over the market opportunities for SRF, which may limit its establishment. A SRF market was successfully established in Oregon, U.S., mainly based on hybrid poplar (Populus spp.). A survey was carried out there and its results were supplemented by US-based literature. The objective was to benchmark conditions that facilitated market development in Oregon with current conditions in Ireland, to identify and describe gaps and opportunities that hat could be applicable to growers and potential users of SRF in Ireland. The key success factors in growing and marketing SRF in Oregon were large-scale plantations, local supply chains, consistency of supply, FSC certification and the targeting of high-value products. Small-scale plantations and low-value product systems were unsuccessful in Oregon. However, liquid biofuels and payment for ecosystem services are new opportunities currently in development. These options could also be applied in Ireland to motivate SRF development and improve the sustainability of these plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochemical conversion processes of biomass to energy are increasingly demanding in terms of the quality of the raw material, especially regarding its moisture content. The use of continuous dryers is attractive because of their low cost and ease of integration into the production line. However, the design of the drier (drying chamber and heating source) and the optimization of its control based on relevant criteria are complex. This paper presents DryKiln_CRP, a comprehensive multiscale model able to account for the two-way interactions between particles, bed, and drier. The drying model at the particle level is based on the van Meel approach which was extended to account explicitly for heat and mass transfer coupling. Computational simulations are discussed for two case studies to emphasize the potential of this multiscale computational model in the design and optimization of industrial plants devoted to the pretreatment of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative analysis of the impact on employment of a wood-based heating system. The wood-energy potential is important in Wallonia (Belgium). Utilization of fuel wood in heating plants decreases the greenhouse gases emissions, but, more importantly, leads to jobs creation – direct jobs linked to the operation of a heating plant, indirect jobs linked to the implementation of a plant. An evaluation of direct jobs created by a 585 kW wood heating plant has been conducted on the basis of a wood supply with logging residues and short rotation coppices and has been compared to direct jobs created by a fuel oil heating system. Economic secondary effects of new jobs (net employment) created by fuel wood supply chains are assessed.