Sustainability Impact Assessment on the Production and Use of Different Wood and Fossil Fuels Employed for Energy Production in North Karelia, Finland

Michael Den Herder, Marja Kolström, Marcus Lindner, Tommi Suominen, Diana Tuomasjukka and Matias Pekkanen
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Michael Den Herder: European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, Joensuu FI-80100, Finland
Marja Kolström: European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, Joensuu FI-80100, Finland
Marcus Lindner: European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, Joensuu FI-80100, Finland
Tommi Suominen: European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, Joensuu FI-80100, Finland
Diana Tuomasjukka: European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, Joensuu FI-80100, Finland
Matias Pekkanen: European Forest Institute, Torikatu 34, Joensuu FI-80100, Finland

Energies, 2012, vol. 5, issue 11, 1-22

Abstract: The utilization rate of woody biomass in eastern Finland is high and expected to increase further in the near future as set out in several regional, national and European policies and strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the sustainability impacts of changes in fuel consumption patterns. We investigated fossil and woody biomass-based energy production chains in the region of North Karelia, focusing on some economic, environmental and social indicators. Indicators were selected based on stakeholder preferences and evaluated using the Tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment (ToSIA). The analysis was based on representative values from National Forest Inventory data, scientific publications, national and regional statistics, databases, published policy targets and expert opinion. From the results it became evident that shifting from fossil to wood-based energy production implies some trade-offs. Replacing oil with woody biomass in energy production would increase the local value added remaining in the region, create employment opportunities and would reduce total GHG emissions. However, firewood, wood chips from small-diameter trees from early thinning and wood pellets have high production costs. Moreover, large greenhouse gas emission resulted from wood pellet production. The case study generated valuable reference data for future sustainability assessments and demonstrated the usefulness of ToSIA as a tool presenting existing knowledge on sustainability impacts of alternative energy supply chains to inform decision making.

Keywords: heavy fuel oil; light heating oil; woody biomass; energy production; sustainability indicators; decision support systems; regional decision making; social; economic and environmental indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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