Assessment of Biomass Energy Potential and Forest Carbon Stocks in Biscay (Spain)

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this research is to identify, quantify and characterize the potential available forest biomass of Pinus radiata D. Don and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. across Biscay province in northern Spain. In order to do this, we have used information from the National Inventories of Spain to quantify the amount of carbon dioxide accumulated in the forests of Biscay by means of stratum-species-based forestry statistics. The total biomass and biomass fractions have been estimated using two different methods: allometric biomass equations (ABE) and biomass expansion factors (BEF). The second objective is to develop a methodology to quantify and produce a cartography of the prospective energy production of residual biomass from the most representative forest species of Biscay. For this purpose, we have used a Geographic Information System (GIS) computer tool. We have found that the stock of carbon accumulated in the main forest species in Biscay in 2014 amounts to 8.2 Tg (ABE) and 6.63 Tg (BEF) equivalent to 30 and 24.3 Tg of CO 2 , respectively. The quantity of forestry biomass residue (FBR) obtained has been estimated as 52,214 Mg·year −1 dry matter. This amount means a prospective energy supply of 947,000 GJ·year −1 .

Soil Erosion and Forests Biomass as Energy Resource in the Basin of the Oka River in Biscay, Northern Spain

“…Specific information concerning such strata is available at the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (ACBC) Forest Map [27]. Once strata in which P. radiata and E. globulus are the dominant species are selected, the most adequate forest treatments that can be carried out in a ten-year-old horizontal stratum are identified, thus the amounts of residual forest biomass that might be obtained in each stratum considering such treatments are estimated [2].…”

“…This is due, among other reasons, to the contribution it makes to fixing atmospheric carbon and, as a consequence, bringing about a reduction in the greenhouse effect. The Kyoto protocol officially recognised the role of forests as carbon sinks in the mitigation of global climate change factors, basically by reducing the atmospheric concentrations of CO 2 [1,2]. Forestry activities generate significant quantities of wastes and by-products that are suitable for diverse energy purposes.…”

Use of LiDAR data during multi-annual periods for estimating forestry variables

“…For this reason, it is essential to determine these parameters in forestry management (Torres et al, 2010;Pan et al, 2011). In most European countries, the increase in these variables is greater than the amount harvested on an annual basis, converting forests into major carbon and biodiversity reserves (Mateos et al, 2016). One of the key indicators for assessing forestry conditions is the estimation of forestry parameters, such as timber volume, but the usual methods for estimating this parameter require prolonged fieldwork (Song et al, 2016).…”

Spatial Distribution of Biomass and Woody Litter for Bio-Energy in Biscay (Spain)

“…In each phase, 1/3 of the trees were cut for P. radiata. It was done according to data obtained in several parts of Spain [13]. In this previous research the influence of forest management and cutting rotations on carbon sequestration in forest biomass was not considered.…”

“…), it is difficult to establish the available biomass quantity at any given moment [12,13]. To overcome this problem, different techniques have been used in this project, the main ones being tele-detection and Geographic Information System (GIS).…”