Biomass potential of forest residues in forests of Ukrainian Carpathians as a component of regional green economy

Abstract

The biomass of forest wood residues (waste) in the Ukrainian Carpathians is now an important resource for ensuring energy security under martial law and the formation of strategic directions for energy independence from imported fossil energy resources and the development of a green economy. As a result of the study, the indicators of the total potential of wood biomass of forest wood residues in the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians were established both in volumetric units and primary energy units. These indicators are differentiated by territorial administrative units of the region and predominant forest stands. The information basis for the assessment of these indicators was the research data on biometric assessment of trees collected in temporary trial plots, as well as mathematical dependencies of conversion factors of biomass components. The study found that the environmentally safe annual potential of the studied resource is about 800 thousand m3, or 7.7 PJ, which can be additionally involved in the process of generating heat or other types of energy. The results of the study of forest residues biomass potential are an informational component for the formation of a regional program for the development of forest bioenergy in the Carpathian region of Ukraine.