TOPIC 'Bioenergy' on Jan 13, 2009 (CET)
Biomass: Refining The Process And Factors To Consider
Guidelines are going to be necessary to ensure biomass is a long-term sustainable source of renewable energy. The soil is an important factor in determining the success of biomass harvesting in the long term. As forestry professionals are learning, there are many considerations to be taken into account to assure sustainable use and re-use of the land.
The branches, leaves, and other wood waste that makes up biomass would normally decay in place if not scooped up for use in producing energy. When those substances decay, they go back into the soil and fertilize it for another round of tree growth. Therefore, only a certain amount of biomass can be removed from a forest floor without damaging repercussions occurring to future forest growth.
Professor Paul Arp with the University of New Brunswick, Canada, believes he has come up with a tool that will measure how much biomass can be removed from the forest floor without hindering future sustainable growth.
The Crown forest lands in Canada are expected to be divided out to developers for biomass harvesting. January 2009 should see Canada’s Department of Natural Resources issuing a “request for proposals” to those wishing to utilize the Crown forest lands to harvest biomass for renewable energy purposes. It is expected that decisions will be made by April 2009 and the parcels of land will be distributed.
Professor Arp’s GIS (geographical information system) tool will give detailed information about each specific grouping of trees. Canada’s DNR plans on using the tool to determine those land allotments that can be suitably harvested with future sustainability in mind. The GIS device currently does not have the ability to calculate biomass harvest for the entire province but does look at a “tree stand” from which can be determined the amount of biomass that can be harvested and when. Arp has been able to determine that some hardwood stands should only be harvested during the winter months. Also, not every forest is suitable for harvesting biomass.
At the present time, allowable tree cuts are down because of a reduced market for wood. This affects the new industry of biomass harvesting as not enough wood will be cut to supply the demand for biomass products. As time and experience evolves, an acceptable balance will no doubt be reached.
Sherry Irvin
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany
