Energy Plantations

Abstract

Energy plantations have been gaining importance in the supply of biomass for energy purposes, due to their high yield in short timeframes. These forest systems also enable to reduce the pressure in other forest systems to provide biomass for energy, in particular those under protection and conservation status. This chapter reviews the state of the art of energy plantations and their yields. It addresses the selection of species, density, rotation, harvest cycles, site selection, management practices, harvesting, biomass yields, and their estimation. Overall, there is a wide set of species and management options that can be used in energy plantations. Similarly, there is a large variability in yields, that vary between and within species, due to site, density, rotation, harvest cycles, and management. Though there are many studies, further research is needed on yield optimisation, rotation length, harvest cycles, management practices, and harvesting.