TITLE:
Schedule for Reducing the Use of Peat and the Possibilities of Replacing It with Forest Chips in Energy Production in Finland
AUTHORS:
Tapio Ranta, Antti Karhunen, Mika Laihanen
KEYWORDS:
Biomass, Supply, Market, Economics, Heat, Combined Heat and Power Generation (CHP)
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
Vol.12 No.4,
November
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: Between 2018 and 2020, an average of 15 TWh of energy peat was consumed
in Finland. Energy peat is used in 260 boilers in Finland, which produce
district heat and heat and steam for industry, as well as electricity as
cogeneration (CHP) in connection with district heating and industrial heat
production. Peat accounts for 3% - 5% of the energy sources used in Finland, but its
importance has been greater in terms of security of supply. With current use in
accordance with the 2018-2020
average, the emissions from peat are almost 6
Mt CO2 per year in Finland, which is 15% of emissions from the
energy sector. In this study, the
technical limitations related to peat burning, economic limitations
related to the availability of biomass, and socio-economic limitations related to the regional economy are
reviewed. By 2040, the technical minimum use of peat will fall to 2 TWh.
The techno-economical potential may be even lower, but due to socio-economic
objectives, peat production will not be completely ceased. The reduction in the
minimum share assumes that old peat boilers are replaced with new biomass
boilers or are alternatively replaced by
other forms of heat production. Based on the biomass reserves, the
current use of peat can be completely replaced by forest chips, but regional
challenges may occur along the coast and in southern Finland. It is unlikely that the current demand for all peat will be fully
replaced by biomass when part of CHP production is replaced by heat
production alone and combustion with waste heat sources.