Cited by 146Forest Biomass Utilization and ManagementForest Management and PolicyBioeconomy and Sustainability Development

The ‘debt’ is in the detail: A synthesis of recent temporal forest carbon analyses on woody biomass for energy

Lamers, Patrick, Junginger, Martin·2013·Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining

Abstract

The temporal imbalance between the release and sequestration of forest carbon has raised a fundamental concern about the climate mitigation potential of forest biomass for energy. The potential carbon debt caused by harvest and the resulting time spans needed to reach pre‐harvest carbon levels (payback) or those of a reference case (parity) have become important parameters for climate and bioenergy policy developments. The present range of analyses however varies in assumptions, regional scopes, and conclusions. Comparing these modeling efforts, we reveal that they apply different principle modeling frameworks while results are largely affected by the same parameters. The size of the carbon debt is mostly determined by the type and amount of biomass harvested and whether land‐use change emissions need to be accounted for. Payback times are mainly determined by plant growth rates, i.e. the forest biome, tree species, site productivity and management. Parity times are primarily influenced by the choice and construction of the reference scenario and fossil carbon displacement efficiencies. Using small residual biomass (harvesting/processing), deadwood from highly insect‐infected sites, or new plantations on highly productive or marginal land offers (almost) immediate net carbon benefits. Their eventual climate mitigation potential however is determined by the effectiveness of the fossil fuel displacement. We deem it therefore unsuitable to define political guidance by feedstock…

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Crossref · 10.1002/bbb.1407

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Authors
Lamers, P., & Junginger, M.
Affiliations
Utrecht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Lamers, Patrick
Venue
Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-04-12
Volume
7
Issue
4
Pages
373-385
ISSN
  • 1932-1031 (ISSN-L)
  • 1932-104X
OpenAlex
W2099427483
Cited by
146
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 8
FWCI
16.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanics of Materials › Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Forest Management and Policy
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development
Keywords
carbon payback time, forest carbon sequestration, land use change emissions, wood pellets, forest management, bioenergy policy

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