ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Residual Woody Waste Biomass as an Energy
Source – Case Study
Franciszek Woch1, Józef Hernik2, Patrycja Wyrozumska3, Barbara Czesak2
1Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute,
Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
2Department of Land Management and Landscape Architecture,
Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying,
University of Agriculture in Cracow, Balicka 253c, 30-149 Cracow, Poland
3The Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Świętokrzyska 15, 25-406 Kielce, Poland
Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
2Department of Land Management and Landscape Architecture,
Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying,
University of Agriculture in Cracow, Balicka 253c, 30-149 Cracow, Poland
3The Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Świętokrzyska 15, 25-406 Kielce, Poland
Submission date: 2014-05-13
Final revision date: 2014-08-12
Acceptance date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2015-02-06
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(1):355–358
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The aim of our study was to determine the potential of forest woody waste biomass as a source of renewable
energy. The research is a case study of one forest division in Poland.
The research was made in Staszów Forest Division, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, eastern Poland. The division is part of the Regional State Forest Directorate in Radom and covers a forest area of 19,335.12 ha. The research covers thinning and felling of forests, and was based on the forest management plan for 2012-21 and its inventory data. During the research basic features of forest stands, such as diameter and volume of aboveground, tree parts were determined. The annual growth of a timber stand in [m3/ha year] and the average age of the stand were analyzed to estimate the amount of obtained wood and biomass for energy generation.
The amount of wood waste that could be used to generate energy is 12,269 t annually both from harvest cutting and intermediate cutting, and additionally 7,267 t/year from wood processing. The energy that could be generated from this amount of woody biomass would allow for electrical power for 14,866 people and heating 3,153 one-family houses for a year. Therefore we claim that the energy obtained from the forest of an area of average rural community meets the needs of half of its inhabitants.
The research was made in Staszów Forest Division, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, eastern Poland. The division is part of the Regional State Forest Directorate in Radom and covers a forest area of 19,335.12 ha. The research covers thinning and felling of forests, and was based on the forest management plan for 2012-21 and its inventory data. During the research basic features of forest stands, such as diameter and volume of aboveground, tree parts were determined. The annual growth of a timber stand in [m3/ha year] and the average age of the stand were analyzed to estimate the amount of obtained wood and biomass for energy generation.
The amount of wood waste that could be used to generate energy is 12,269 t annually both from harvest cutting and intermediate cutting, and additionally 7,267 t/year from wood processing. The energy that could be generated from this amount of woody biomass would allow for electrical power for 14,866 people and heating 3,153 one-family houses for a year. Therefore we claim that the energy obtained from the forest of an area of average rural community meets the needs of half of its inhabitants.
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