Forest Management Communities’ Participation in Bioenergy Production Initiatives: A Case Study for Galicia (Spain)

Abstract

Bioenergy is the form of clean energy with the greatest potential for growth in Spain, especially in those regions with a large forest area and a high potential for the utilization of forest resources for energy purposes. This is the case in Galicia (a region located in northwestern Spain), where the communal management of forest resources is widespread. Within this type of management, there is a pioneering case study in which biomass energy use activities have been initiated through an international project. The possible success of this project is of great importance since it could represent an alternative to the main energy activity in the common management of forests: the production of wind energy. In recent years, and with a special increase in 2022, Galician public opinion has expressed its opposition to the implementation of new wind farms in its forests. The aim of this article is to analyze whether or not it is profitable for forest management communities to participate in bioenergy initiatives, which is a novel analysis of the Galician geographical area. For this purpose, the main economic and financial variables of the Galician forest management communities participating in the bioenergy project, SilvaPlus Project, have been analyzed, before and during their participation in the project. In addition, a financial comparison is also made with a group of Galician forest management communities without the energy use of their resources. The evolution of the relevant variables, analyzed between 2011 and 2020, shows a generally positive trend in the values of the forest communities participating in the bioenergy generation project, resulting in a positive experience, both environmentally and financially, for the forest community.

Effects of Climate Change on Temperate Forests in the Northwest Iberian Peninsula

“…The bioenergy production and availability can also be affected by climate change, as demonstrated in the study conducted by Fernández-González et al [60], which provides insightful results on forest management communities, particularly focusing on those involved in bioenergy production and those not utilizing their resources for energy purposes. The study identified two distinct populations for examination: one consisting of communities engaged in bioenergy production, averaging 140 members, and another with no energy use, averaging 79 members.…”

The European Dilemma—Energy Security or Green Transition

“…Unlike other energy transitions, this transition, which emphasizes the use of renewable energy, is a politically driven process, with considerable efforts being made at the international level to adopt agreements that promote carbon neutrality [17][18][19][20][21][22]. The European Union stands out in this complex effort to support the energy transition, important steps being taken by creating the Energy Union in 2015, by promoting an energy independence strategy and stimulating the twin transition, considering the growing importance of digitization, including in the energy sector [17,[23][24][25][26][27][28].…”