REGIONAL ADDED VALUE OF REFINING FOREST BIOMASS FOR ENERGY PURPOSES IN FINLAND

The economic advantages brought by the forest-based bioeconomy appear to be positive, however, those may be distributed unevenly in the society depending on the forest resources from regional areas and demand potential by user sides. The aim of the study was to compare the regional significance of small diameter pulpwood from young birch dominated stands to the traditional chemical pulping outside of region with the hypothetical refining investment in processing plant of wood biomass for energy purposes at the region. The financial investments in the forest sector have been missing at the study area of South Savo in recent years, although it comprises more than 10 percent of total wood supply in Finland. Four different scenarios were studied of which the use of young birchwood was completely different at the South Savo region and neighborhood regions. These alternative scenarios were compared with each other in the value-added point of view to compare the cash flow influences at the South Savo region.