Elsevier

Biomass and Bioenergy

Volume 31, Issue 10, October 2007, Pages 739-746
Biomass and Bioenergy

Wood fuel supply, costs and home consumption in Lithuania

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.06.026Get rights and content

Abstract

This paper examines the possibilities of increasing the use of wood from private forests in Lithuania for bioenergy purposes. Potential wood fuel supply and consumption were investigated using a literature review and analysis of statistical data. Costs of wood chips production were calculated applying economic simulation. The analysis showed that 0.6 Mm3 (1.2 TWh) of firewood is produced and about 0.3 Mm3 (0.6 TWh) of forest logging residues could be used annually for fuel in private forests. The available volume will increase in coming decades. In total, Lithuanian households had increased wood fuel consumption by five times during 10 years and exceeded 2.3 Mm3 (4.6 TWh) in 2003. Firewood production for home consumption is one of the most important forest owners’ objectives.

The cost of forest chips varied from 19 to 36 euro m−3 in pre-commercial thinnings and from 20 to 28 euro m−3 in final thinnings. The lack of specific policies supporting the use of natural resources is causing a lack of incentive to increase the use of local fuels.

Introduction

Peculiarities regarding the supply of wood-based biomass for energy at the individual forest owner level in Lithuania are based on historical and socio-economic factors. The structure of forest ownership has been changing due to ongoing land reform processes since Lithuania regained independence in 1991. Privatisation brought a lot of changes to the forest sector, from ownership structure to forest management and use of forest resources. By 1st January 2006, the private forest sector constituted 218,000 private forest owners. Private forests occupied 717,000 ha, which was 34% of the total forest area. This proportion is projected to increase in the future.

Small-scale private forest properties are common in Lithuania. The average size of a forest estate is 3.4 ha [1]. Properties up to 5 ha account for 83% of the total number of private forest holdings in Lithuania. During recent years roundwood supply from private forest consistently increased. The felling volume of Lithuanian private forest was over 1.9 Mm3 in 2002, 2.7 Mm3 in 2003 and 2.7 Mm3 in 2004 [2]. This is more than 40% of the total roundwood supply in Lithuania. The forest owners use part of the felled roundwood for fuel. Moreover, the potential for use of forest logging residues is very large. Currently, the supply of forest logging residues from the private forest sector is very low. This low supply is the result of the costs exceeding the income to the small estate owners.

In Lithuania, interest in biofuel has risen quite recently. After the commencement of construction of biofuel heating plants, private forest owners gained a possibility to earn extra income. Forest chips production began recently and to date it has not been clear what the production costs are.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse supply, costs and home consumption of wood fuel from the private forests of Lithuania.

Section snippets

Study of supply and consumption of forest fuel from private forests

Possibilities for wood fuel supply from private forests and home consumption were analysed using a literature review and the analysis of statistical data.

Information on logging volumes in Lithuania is provided by the State Forest Inventory and Management Institute. The institute calculated the prognosis for the use of forest resources including logging residues (tops, branches, stumps and bark) in the 21st century [3]. The forecasts were presented separately for state and private forests.

The

Wood fuel resources and consumption

On 1st January 2006, total forest area was 2.1 Mha, covering 32.5% of Lithuania [1]. Total growing stock volume amounted to 401 Mm3. Annual current increment in Lithuanian forests amounted to 13.1 Mm3 and annual current increment per ha was 6.5 m3. The total felling volume was 6.3 Mm3 in 2004. Of this, felling volume in state forests amounted to 3.6 Mm3, while 2.7 Mm3 of timber was removed in private forests.

According to the prognosis for logging amounts in Lithuanian forests [3], 0.6 Mm3 (1.2 TWh) of

Discussion

During recent years, roundwood supply from private forests in Lithuania has consistently risen. The felling volume of private forests was more than 2 Mm3 in 2002, 2.7 Mm3 in 2003 and 2.7 Mm3 in 2004. Roundwood supply from the private forest sector comprised about 42% of total roundwood supply in 2004.

In spite of increasing activities in the private forest sector, the supply of roundwood and, especially, wood biomass for energy may increase in the future for several reasons. First of all, forest

Conclusions

About 0.6 Mm3 (1.2 TWh) of firewood is produced in private forests annually. Additionally, about 0.3 Mm3 (0.6 TWh) of forest logging residues from private forests could be used for fuel. According to forecasts, the felling volume and amounts of firewood and logging residues will increase in the future.

Lithuanian households increased wood fuel consumption by five times during 10 years and exceeded 2.2 Mm3 (4.4 TWh) in 2003. A significant number of owners collected firewood for their own needs in their

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