Inception Studies for Biomass Energy Supply Opportunities

Prerequisite: Comprehensive assessment of the wood-fuel value chain

Measures to promote sustainable wood-fuel supplies should always be synchronized with the modernization of the entire wood-energy sector, in recognition of the fact that wood-based energy is an environmentally friendly/renewable, socially adapted, and clean/low‐risk source of energy. Promoting wood-energy on this basis calls for a stepwise, holistic approach, aiming for the continuous, through gradual refinement/adaptation of pertinent framework conditions, organizational and procedural aspects, and technological development. Political will is pivotal to this end.

In order to enhance a sustainable, pro-poor, regional woodfuel supply complying with criteria of ecological sustainability and fostering a local economic upswing, a holistic analysis of the whole woodfuel value chain is required.

The following list of questions is not exhaustive but indicative, outlining salient issues that enable dignosis and analysis leading to better project design and implementation.

It should be borne in mind that all measures aiming to enhance the wood-fuel supply chain are based on common principles and draw on the assumptions that:

• Substantial quantities of wood-fuel can be produced sustainably without undue impacts on food production,
• Appropriate technologies for conversion and utilization exist or can be introduced,
• Biomass use provides environmental benefits by way of substituting non-renewable fuels, thereby contributing to GHG mitigation,
• There exist potentials for enhancing economic benefits in terms of added value and employment.

It should be noted, that in regard to ICS interventions a specific list of questions can be viewed under the following link Inception Studies for ICS opportunities.
When analyzing and comparing data it is of utmost importance to ensure that adequate conversion factors are applied and local units are converted to international standards equivalents.

Information required on political and legal framework conditions

It is increasingly recognized that sound wood-fuel sector development must be an integral component of comprehensive environmental and development policies and planning processes. Although the forest sector is closely linked to many other sectors, there is a lack of coherent policies. Woodfuel production, transportation and distribution often remain informal and unregulated – rendering them inefficient, wasteful and risky.

• Is wood energy recognized as an important pillar in the future energy mix of the country?
• What are the existing policies, strategies and major programs (poverty reduction strategy (NPRP), national environmental strategy, forest and/or energy sector strategies etc.) relevant to the biomass energy sector?
• Do forest legislation/by-laws and regulations adequately address woodfuel supply issues and are they clearly and unambiguously laid down?
• Are woodfuel supply issues adequately coordinated between forest legislation and other pertinent laws?
• Is there a biomass strategy where wood energy is adequately addressed?
  

Information needed on control and law enforcement

Pertinent provisions in forest laws are frequently not applied, owing to lacking resources and capacities for supervision and law enforcement. Unregulated access to, and use of forest resources curtails any improvement of the wood-fuel value chain, because it breeds overexploitation, market distortions and, by extension, systematic undervaluation of wood-based fuels.

• Is law enforcement systematically organized?
• Are there reliable records (case files and statistics) of breaches of the law, imposed sanctions, and their enforcement?
• Are mandates for forest governance, law enforcement, persecution of offenses and legal redress clarified, well coordinated and effective?
  

Information needed on demographics and the socio-economic setting

Demographics and trends of urbanization are salient determinants of energy demand.

• Are population size, annual growth rate and projected size known, in terms of both, rural and urban populations?
• Are demographic patterns known?
• Are occupational patterns and livelihood characteristics sufficiently understood?
• Is the rural population motivated to get involved in woodfuel supply business?
• Is enough man-power available?
  

Information needed on the current energy situation and future prospects

Planning warrants critical reflection on the current energy needs and the future prospects so as to justify long-term investments in forest management and economic benefits.

• What are the trends in supply of wood energy (past, present and future)?
• What is the energy balance by type of energy and use patterns, differentiated for rural and urban areas?
• What are the comparative advantages of woodfuels in comparison to other energy sources?
• What is the per capita consumption of fuelwood/charcoal?
  
• What kinds of subsidies are allocated to the different types of energy?
  

Information needed on land use planning

Sustainable forestry requires good planning. Good planning starts with a strategy. It begins with an integrated land-use plan seeking to balance the economic, social and cultural opportunities in a specific area of forest with the need to maintain and enhance the condition of the area’s forest.

• What are the current land uses and areas (e.g. forest, crops lands)?
• What major land use changes occurred in the past, in terms of – inter alia – deforestation, expansion of agricultural or urban areas?
• Do forest areas exist with either none or non-clarified tenure rights (open access areas)?
• Do land use plans identify a permanent forest estate, i.e. areas dedicated to forestry as the sole permissible land use?