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Energy efficiency and the environmental impact of harvesting stumps and logging residues

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Abstract

In a case study, seven different procurement chains of forest energy in Sweden were modelled and the environmental performance was calculated from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective. The systems differed with respect to geographical location, the technology employed and resource use (stumps or logging residues). The energy output/input ratio of chips from residues and stumps was in the range 21–48, and the greenhouse gas emissions were 1.5–3.5 g CO2-eq/MJ chips. The systems in southern Sweden were generally more efficient than similar systems in northern Sweden. The forest energy systems based on bundles and stumps rely on immature technologies which have the potential to be improved should there be technical developments of the systems.

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Notes

  1. E0 is the effective time and E15 the effective time, including all delay times <15 min.

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Acknowledgments

The work for this study was carried out as part of the Stump Research Program at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. It was funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7032, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    E.-L. Lindholm & P.-A. Hansson

  2. The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Uppsala Science Park, 751 83, Uppsala, Sweden

    S. Berg

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  1. E.-L. Lindholm
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  2. S. Berg
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  3. P.-A. Hansson
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Correspondence to E.-L. Lindholm.

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Lindholm, EL., Berg, S. & Hansson, PA. Energy efficiency and the environmental impact of harvesting stumps and logging residues. Eur J Forest Res 129, 1223–1235 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0412-1

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