Nordic bioenergy potentials

The type and level of biomass resource utilised for energy purposes reflects the natural resource availability in the country. In terms of level of use, biomass in Sweden and Finland accounts for more than 300 PJ per year (416 PJ and 312 PJ respectively) while Denmark utilises between a quarter and a third of this (100 PJ) and Norway slightly more than half of biomass use in Denmark (56 PJ).

In terms of type of biomass use, black liquor plays a prominent role in Finland and Sweden, with 50 % and 35 % of total biomass use respectively. Wood products and wastes represent the other large resource with 48% in Finland and 41% in Sweden. In Denmark, close to half of biomass use (48 %) originates from forestry comprising chips, pellets and firewood. The remainder consists of organic waste and straw (47 %) and only 4% of biogas. In Norway, firewood and forest residues represent nearly half of the biomass utilised (46 %), while industrial wood residues and by-products cover the other large share (44 %).

Potential availability of domestic biomass including current use varies from 111 PJ/year in Norway to more than 500 PJ /year in Sweden. Potentials are found in biogas and straw in Denmark, in black liquor and wood industry wastes in Finland and Sweden, and in biogas, timber, and firewood & forest residues in Norway. Utilising the estimated annual biomass resources in the Nordic countries would increase the share of biomass in gross inland consumption from the current 14 % to 25 %. Estimates from the EEA (2006), excluding Norway, show a slightly more conservative level of domestic biomass resource availability varying from 104 PJ to max. 565 PJ per year, based on a set of environmental criteria. EEA (2006) also estimates the amount of arable land available up to 2030 for bioenergy production without increasing environmental pressures on land. For Denmark with an intensive agricultural production, no additional land would be available by 2020. In Finland, the availability is also set to decrease over time from 486,000 ha by 2010 to 299,000 ha by 2020. In Sweden, a slight increase is expected.


Status and Potentials of Bioenergy in the Nordic Countries - Summary 2008 (pdf)

Summary of Nordic Biomass Potentials (including current use):

Source: ECON Pöyry 2008