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Sustainability Impact Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Value Chains in Quebec (Canada)—A ToSIA Approach

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  • Ayaovi Locoh

    (Renewable Materials Research Centre, Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Évelyne Thiffault

    (Renewable Materials Research Centre, Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Simon Barnabé

    (Innovations Institute in Ecomaterials, Ecoproducts, and Ecoenergies, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada)

Abstract

Forest bioenergy value chains can offer attractive opportunities to promote economic development and mitigate climate change. However, implementing profitable and efficient forest biomass value chains requires overcoming barriers that continue to hinder the development of bioenergy systems in several jurisdictions. The objective of this study was to compare the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of various potential configurations of forest bioenergy value chains, including forest biomass supply and bioenergy production chains, in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec (Canada), which is a jurisdiction that has considerable forest resources but makes little use of bioenergy. We based our study on the ToSIA model parameterization and compared various policy measures, biomass supply, and logistics scenarios for 2008 and 2030. Our results showed that wood chip and pellet value chains in the Capitale-Nationale region would positively contribute to the regional economy in 2030, even in the absence of subsidies. Moreover, actions to increase biomass feedstock mobilization in 2030 would lead to an increase in gross value added, employment, and energy production in the region compared with 2008 and a greater increase than other considered policy or logistical measures. However, increased biomass feedstock mobilization would also mean higher relative GHG emissions and more fossil fuel energy input per unit of bioenergy than in the other scenarios. Conversely, optimizing biomass feedstock and combustion technologies could help minimize the fossil fuel energy input needed and GHG and some non-GHG pollutant emissions. Overall, our study suggested that implementing policy and logistical measures for forest biomass value chains could make the significant mobilization of forest bioenergy attainable and, in turn, Quebec’s 2030 bioenergy target of 17 petajoules realistic.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayaovi Locoh & Évelyne Thiffault & Simon Barnabé, 2022. "Sustainability Impact Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Value Chains in Quebec (Canada)—A ToSIA Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:18:p:6676-:d:913667
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. W. A. Kurz & C. C. Dymond & G. Stinson & G. J. Rampley & E. T. Neilson & A. L. Carroll & T. Ebata & L. Safranyik, 2008. "Mountain pine beetle and forest carbon feedback to climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 452(7190), pages 987-990, April.
    2. Michael Den Herder & Marja Kolström & Marcus Lindner & Tommi Suominen & Diana Tuomasjukka & Matias Pekkanen, 2012. "Sustainability Impact Assessment on the Production and Use of Different Wood and Fossil Fuels Employed for Energy Production in North Karelia, Finland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(11), pages 1-22, November.
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    4. Mansuy, Nicolas & Thiffault, Evelyne & Lemieux, Sébastien & Manka, Francis & Paré, David & Lebel, Luc, 2015. "Sustainable biomass supply chains from salvage logging of fire-killed stands: A case study for wood pellet production in eastern Canada," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 62-73.
    5. Diana Tuomasjukka & Marcus Lindner & David Edwards, 2013. "A Concept for Testing Decision Support Tools in Participatory Processes Applied to the ToSIA Tool," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-22, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Silvina M. Manrique & Carolina R. Subelza & María Antonia Toro & Quelbis R. Quintero Bertel & Raúl J. Tauro, 2023. "Forest Supply Chain for Bioenergy: An Approach for Biomass Study in the Framework of a Circular Bioeconomy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-25, October.

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