Managing forests for energy
Woody residues at skid sites and landings are potentially a huge source of fuel. This page contains information aimed to assist forest managers and owners to manage these residues in order to maximize their potential benefits.
Investors in bioenergy plants using forest residues face risks associated with fuel quality and security of supply. These risks are due mainly to the fact that forest residues are a waste product from producing logs with no regard for the potential value of these residues as a fuel.
Changes in the management of forest residues during and after a harvest could reduce some of these risks and lead to the realisation of a bioenergy industry in New Zealand that is mutually beneficial to forest growers and energy plant operators.
For more information on beneficial harvesting practices follow this link.
Logging residues are branches and discarded stem wood that collect on the landing site during harvesting. They accumulate at landings at a rate of about 4 to 6% of the volume of logs extracted through the landing. In many cases this residue is pushed aside and left to rot. Depending on the landing this can create problems for the logging system and the future management of the site.
Removing these residues for use as a fuel is a potential solution to these problems.
Follow this link to learn more.
Loss of soil organic matter and nutrient depletion are of potential concern for residue removal for bioenergy. However, it is possible to harvest biomass for energy from forests without compromising soil quality and forest productivity if sustainable management practices are adopted.
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The effect of applying wood ash to forest soils for nutrient enhancement depends on the specific soil characteristics and ash quality.
If good management practices (soil and ash testing) are followed, there are no adverse environmental effects from the land application of wood ash.
For more information on the land application of ash to forests follow this link.
The Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ) provides a central focus point for liaison with Government
agencies, the dissemination of information amongst the industry and
long-term positioning of bioenergy into New Zealand's energy system.
View the Bioenergy page on EECA's website.
A commercial entity focused on the distribution of wood waste for fuel is Living Energy.
The IEA Bioenergy:Short rotation crop website has information on dedicated energy crops including current New Zealand based trials.
To speak with a specialist about the opportunities available for your wood waste phone 0800 BIOENERGY (0800 246 363)
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