Bio-energy Forest Plantations for the Southeastern United States

摘要

Bio-energy forest plantations will supplement woody biomass from other sources such as logging residues. In the southern US, projections are for an increase of up to 25 million “new” tons of woody biomass demand for bio-energy. To supply this woody biomass demand will require purpose grown plantations of various species including pine, eucalypts, sweetgum, hybrid poplar and cottonwood, amongst others. Forest plantation yields can be 8-15 green tons/acre/year on rotations of 5-12 years. Utilization of this renewable and sustainable biomass resource will be as feedstock “designed” for a large number of bio-energy applications.