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Use of wood-based fuels (6.9)
 |
| Figure 6.9a Total energy
consumption and
consumption of wood-based
fuels, 1970–2010. |
 |
| Figure 6.9b Consumption
of wood-based fuels,
1970–2010. |
Carbon dioxide emissions and the threat of subsequent climate
warming can be mitigated by replacing fossil fuels with renewable
energy sources. In Finnish forest industry, waste liquors as
well as bark, chips and sawdust provide a source of renewable
energy. The same applies to logging residue, the branches and
crowns of trees left in forests in regeneration fellings and thinnings.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the use
of wood for energy has the effect of increasing self-sufficiency
in energy production, promoting good silvicultural practices and
improving the employment situation.
In 2010, wood-based fuels5 accounted for 312 petajoule (PJ) of
energy production in Finland, or 22% of Finland’s total energy
consumption. The use of wood-based fuels has increased in Finland
since the 1990s. In 2009, however, the production of woodbased
energy in the forest industry declined substantially due to
a reduction in production capacity. Most forest industry installations
are self-sufficient in terms of energy, as they can use all
wood waste and waste liquors for energy production.
5 Wood-based fuels are waste liquors and other byproducts of the forest industry
(tall oil and birch oil, soft soap, methanol, biosludge, paper), forest chips, industrial
chips, sawdust, bark, recycled wood, pellets, briquettes and fuelwood.
Most forest industry installations are self-suffi- cient in terms of energy as they
can utilise all woody waste and waste liquors for energy production. The use of
wood-based fuels has increased in Finland since the 1990s.
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