Analysis of the potential of forestry biomass production in the Massif of Garraf and the community participation Type of study: Case Study Authors: Konstantinos Chatziioannou - [email protected] Sergio Fernández - [email protected] Bibiana Monsivais - [email protected] Pierre-Jean Rigole - [email protected] Date of Submission: May 28th - 2013 Abstract Biomass has been exploited by humanity since people burned woods in order to start a fire and get warm. Today, biomass is considered a renewable energy source with vast potential that could not only help towards climate change mitigation, but also boost economic and social growth as a new emerging industrial sector. This paper investigates the current situation and the potential of the forest Garraf southern of Barcelona, and tries to identify problems and suggest potential solutions. Governmental policies and measures are evalauted and as well as possible actions from different stakeholders. It also presents a brief historical evolution of biomass as an energy source in Sweden, a country in which biomass exploitation has been profound over the past three decades and could be used as a paradigm. Table of Contents Abstract........................................................................................................................................I Abbreviations and Acronyms...................................................................................................III 1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................1 2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................1 3 Energy production analysis of Catalonia ............................................................................1 3.1 Energy production ......................................................................................................1 3.2 Catalonia energy production from forestry biomass ..................................................2 3.3 Energy demand...........................................................................................................3 4 Trend analysis of biomass use in Catalonia ........................................................................3 5 The Garraf Massif. Region diagnosis..................................................................................5 5.1 Framework conditions (social, economic, legal, technological, environmental) .......5 The Area of Garraf..................................................................................................................5 5.2 Biomass production capacity......................................................................................6 5.3 Potential as energy source ..........................................................................................7 6 Forestry Owners Association the Garraf Massif region......................................................7 7 Governmental policy regarding biomass for energy production.........................................8 7.1 Biomass development and policies in other European countries: the Swedish example...................................................................................................................................8 8 Discussion ...........................................................................................................................9 8.1 Strategies necessary to increase biomass consumption in the region and to obtain an economically viable production..............................................................................................9 8.2 Strategies to achieve and promote awareness, social acceptance and community participation of biomass use ...................................................................................................9 8.3 How can other forest uses be boosted? (Agriculture, tourism, livestock, farming) ...9 9 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................10 10 Bibliography .....................................................................................................................11 II Abbreviations and Acronyms ktoe Thousands of tonne oil equivalent kt Thousands of tonnes Mtoe Millions of tonne oil equivalent III 1 Introduction According to the European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/28/EC (DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC, 2009), the EU states should fulfil the 202020 goals, i.e. carbon dioxide emission reduction of 20%, an energy efficiency increase of 20%, and an energy generation from renewable sources of 20%. Biomass is recognized as an energy source that can play a key role for in reaching these goals as it contributes to the supply of energy for electricity generation, heating and transportation. Many publications assess the potential of biomass as part of a sustainable energy system analyzing biomass production potential taking into account critical aspects such as economic profitability, and environmental, social and cultural impacts (Verkerk, et al., 2011), (Carneiro & Ferreira, 2012), (EEA, 2006). The region of Catalonia in Spain is actively pursuing activities to develop the use of biomass in the energy sector. In this study, we focus on the development of the association of forestry owners in el Massis del Garraf, for exploitation of forest biomass as energy source. The Garraf is a forest area of 20 000 hectares situated south of Barcelona. The aim of the study is to present a diagnosis of the situation of the potential of biomass production in Garraf as energy source. We present the contextual framework for the case study by reviewing the supply and demand for energy in Catalonia and the forestry biomass applications for energy generations. A second objective is to determine the biomass production potential in Garraf and review the social, economic, legal, technological, and environmental framework conditions. Finally strategies to promote biomass use in Garraf are discussed. 2 Methodology This local case study tries to focus on the importance of the community participation in areas that normally are not influenced or managed by community movements. The authors of this report first researched about the general aspects from the biomass sector in Europe and then focusing in smaller areas just trying to realize the actual situation in the Garraf area. Once the initial information was found and argued, the authors began to develop a framework that included social, economic, technological, and environmental aspects. The task was developed in both individual and group discussion. Every week was held a Skype meeting so the group could discuss about the progress and developed new targets and questions that might be resolved. The authors had not used a specific theory process to study this case and just trying and developing several ways or hypothesis. Regarding the methodology, the need was to have a concrete understanding of the importance of how community participation can promote new ways to improve social, economic and environmental aspects. The problem we mainly had found is about the information from the new Association. Although Garraf area is not a very big area and there is not much information about it we could evaluate the potential from the data of the areas in which it is embodied (Catalonia). Despite of the gaps in data and information, the report can help to guide research that may allow those questions to be answered. 3 Energy production analysis of Catalonia This section presents the situation for energy supply and demand in Catalonia. It provides the context for the assessment of the potential of biomass from the Garraf Massif as energy source. 3.1 Energy production The energy balance of Catalonia is presented in Table 3-1 for 2009, which is latest updated statistics available from the Catalan Institute of Energy (Generalitat de Catalunya, 2013). Catalonia energy supply is largely dependent on imported energy mainly fossil fuel, which stands for 72% of the total consumption of primary energy. Out of the primary energy produced locally in Catalonia, 82% is generated by nuclear power. The renewable energy portion accounts for 4.1% of the primary energy 1 consumption with 49% generated from biomass and 39% from hydropower. Note that the biomass figure includes production from forestry, arable and livestock biomass, solid urban waste, biological fuels and biogas. The actual breakdown between the different fractions included in the biomass is presented in the following section. Table 3-1 Energy balance in Catalonia in 2009 Producti Losses Import- Consumption Energy Non Final Thousands of on of Transformatio transport export of primary sector's own energy consumption tonne primary n of energy and balance energy consumption uses of energy energy distribution Fossil fuel 145 17 431 17 576 -2 801 -1 635 50 -2 911 10 280 Nuclear 4 887 0 4 887 -4 887 0 0 0 0 Renewable 872 121 993 -662 0 0 0 331 Hydroelectric 384 0 384 -384 0 0 0 0 Wind 79 0 79 -79 0 0 0 0 Photovoltaic 24 0 24 -24 0 0 0 0 solar Solar thermal 18 0 18 0 0 0 0 18 Biomass 368 121 489 -176 0 0 0 313 Electricity 0 770 770 3 608 -200 -291 0 3 887 Non-renewable 71 0 71 -21 0 0 0 50 waste Total 5 974 18 323 24 297 -4 763 -1 835 -242 -2 911 14 548 3.2 Catalonia energy production from forestry biomass The primary energy consumption in Catalonia from renewables is presented in Table 3-2. The biomass provided 103 ktoe