Managing Short Rotation Tropical Plantations as Sustainable Source of Bioenergy

Abstract

Renewable energy has been identified as a promising option for reducing the heavy dependence on fossil fuels. The global use of bioenergy is equivalent to nearly a billion tons of oil and contributes about 10% of world’s primary energy demand. Bioenergy is expected to become a key future energy resource. Short rotation energy plantation species are characterized by fast growth rate and high yield. Depending on tree species, rotation age, and biomass yield, energy yield from short rotation energy plantation could range from 312 to 9,792 GJ ha−1. However, allowance must be made for branch and foliage biomasses that are usually left on site after harvesting as well as for the overall low efficiency of converting biomass. The current and expected future increase in world food prices, partly occasioned by the competition between resource use as food and biofuel feedstock, calls for reconsideration in the use of edible crops as bioenergy feedstocks. Future directions will be the use of resources that are inedible, cost-effective, high yielding, and easy to sustain as bioenergy feedstocks, as well as wastes from forestry and agrifood industries, domestic and industrial products.