Bioenergy

Forest is the largest source of bioenergy production in Norway. Most common is direct combustion of wood, wood chips and pellets for heating - either in conventional wood stoves, central heating systems or district heating centers.

The potential for increased use of wood for bioenergy production is large. The annual volume logged is actually much lower than the regrowth. Also, today logging debris, like tops and branches, is generally left in the forest, unused.

Calculations show that such debris from current logging alone could contribute 6 TWh of energy. In total, Norwegian commercial forests have the potential to contribute 29 TWh of energy.

Biofuels traded in Norway today are mostly imported, and are produced from agricultural crops such as canola, corn and sugar cane.

Borregaard in Sarpsborg also produces ethanol from cellulose, supplying buses in Oslo. Oslo is probably the first city in the world to put ethanol made from cellulose to use commercially.

Research on several different technologies for production of biofuels from forest raw materials and cellulose, including biofuel for aircraft, is continuing.

Increased production and supply of wood-based bioenergy is not only climate smart, it also contributes to industry development and economic growth.

The Bioenergy Program, supervised by Innovation Norway, is the Ministry of Agriculture and Food's main tool for increased development of small-scale bioenergy. The program is intended to encourage farmers and forest owners to produce, use, and market more bioenergy.