ENERGY ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF WOOD BIOMASS AS BY-PRODUCTS IN LCA

Forest products and by-products are generally considered ecologically sustainable, especially due to carbon storage and continuous material growth. However, if not strategically managed, both wood products and by-products can be a burden on the environment. Lignocellulosic biomass can play an important role in economic and sustainable development if the right choices are made. Especially in countries with large forest stands, woody biomass represents an optimal contribution to the circular economy. The aim of this study was to present three possible scenarios for the management of wood by-products, which often appear in LCA analyses, and to analyse the energy balances for the energy mass flow for each of these scenarios. The energy assessment was carried out in the form of an input-output system analysis. The scenarios serve as a starting point for further LCA analyses, which should include closing the material-energy cycles and taking into account the main principles of the bioeconomy.