Abstract

This paper discusses research carried out during the 1990s on European wood fuel trade at the Department of Forest Management and Products, SLU, in Sweden. Utilisation of wood-fuels and other biofuels increased very rapidly in some regions during that period. Biofuels are replacing fossil fuels which is an effective way to reduce the future influence of green house gases on the climate. The results indicate a rapid increase in wood-fuel trade in Europe from low levels and with a limited number of countries involved. The chief products traded are wood pellets, wood chips and recycled wood. The main trading countries are, for export, Germany and the Baltic states and, for import, Sweden, Denmark and to some extent the Netherlands. In the future, the increased use of biofuel in European countries is expected to intensify activity in this trade.

Keywords

bio-energy markets; international trade; wood energy; EU energy policy; policy instruments; wood fuel; market development, bioenergy, wood-fuels

Published in

Vtt Symposium
2001, volume: 208, pages: 61-68
Book title: Nordic Treasure Hunt: Extracting Energy from Forest Residues
ISBN: 951-38-5708-5
Publisher: Technical Research Centre Filand

Conference

Annual Seminar on Nordic Treasure Hunt: Extracting Energy from Forest Residues

Authors' information