[en] Within the context created by the objective to increase the production of biomass-based energy, the authors studied the possibilities of using various crops and species in forests (i.e. in more acid soils), but also the impacts of these cultures on soil fertility. In a first part, they present and describe the experimental installation: site selection and characterization, experiment scheme, ash supply (choice, packaging, origin of ashes), and realisation. Then, they report the study of plants growth after one year, report some measurements regarding initial soil conditions (physical and chemical properties), and observations about flora development. They also mention performed information and communication action, and discuss perspectives

[en] After a synthesis of regulation and a presentation of different related sectors (agricultural valorisation, forest-based valorisation, valorisation in ceramic industry, in building and public works, storage or elimination in technical landfill centre), a first document reports a study of ash resource related to wood-fired boilers (inventory of installations, fuel types, ash resource), the physical-chemical characterisation (bibliographical study, analyses, comparison between both), discusses the existing regulation and its perspective of evolution for different types of installation of wood or waste combustion, reports an analysis of existing valorisation installations (wood-fired boilers, agricultural valorisation), and proposes a study of new sectors of application (specific agricultural valorisation, biomass ash valorisation in forest, industrial valorisation). Various aspects (ash production, ash storage, valorisation assessment, equipment) of the management and valorisation of wood-fired boiler ashes are addressed for different fields: regulation, average analyses of ashes, pre-feasibility study, storage and spreading, spreading follow-up, agricultural valorisation for wood-fired boilers of different size. The last document presents different aspects related to ashes produced by automatic wood-fired boilers and their valorisation possibilities: standardisation of agricultural and forest spreading, installation classification, ash storage and spreading, influence of the different types of wood fuels, financial interest of ash valorisation by spreading

[en] This study aimed at elaborating a method of quantification of annual inter-regional, national and international biomass flows within the French market, within a perspective of integration into the French national biomass resource observatory (ONRB). This method is based on numerous existing data which are available for all French regions. Three main data sources have been selected. After a presentation of definitions and nomenclature used within these data sources, and a discussion of ways to address the flow concept, the report presents the different studied data (regional, national and international data), and then presents the adopted method for the assessments of inter-regional flows, flows between a region and the international level, and between France and the rest of the world. Recommendations are then made for the implementation and integration of this method into existing tools

[en] Based on an innovative approach to wood resources, this study aimed at improving the assessment of the wood biomass availability (in forests, outside of forests, with respect to potential usages), at characterising this availability with respect to exploitation technical conditions, to mobilisation economic conditions, and to a sustainable management of resources, and according to a yearly crop. It also aimed at determining the resource mobilisation feasibility from technical and economic points of view, and at determining environmental benefits and limitations. Thus after an overview of the study context, objectives and scope of validity, the report addresses biomass availabilities of the main wood resources and of supplementary wood resources. Possible ways for future improvements are finally briefly discussed

[en] This publication proposes a synthesis of a study which aimed at analysing the present and future place of wood-energy in the European Union as the main renewable resource used to produce heat and electricity. This study comprised an analysis of European markets of solid biomass and of regulation, case studies on wood-energy producer markets (North America, Eastern Europe, Brazil and Africa), a study of preparation modes (shredding, granulation, roasting) and biomass transport. This study is based on bibliographical searches in national and European sources, and on field data collected by the various bodies involved in this study. This synthesis notably discusses the following issues: solid biomass is the main renewable resource for the EU and has many applications; European objectives for solid biomass by 2020 are very ambitious; markets are becoming international to face the EU's increasing demand; pellet production in North America is strongly increasing; in Europe, eastern European countries are the main exporters; Brazil has an export potential which is still to be confirmed; the African trade with Europe is still in its infancy. Finally, the development perspectives of roasted wood trade are discussed

[en] In order to reduce its dependency on fossil energies and to struggle against effects of climate change, France defined an ambitious objective of 40 per cent for biomass in its renewable energy mix by 2020, with a large part of forestry products. This study aims at determining future exploitable wood volumes, in quantity as well as in quality by 2035, in order to support the elaboration of national and regional forest-wood policies. By using several data (in situ measurements, maps of private forests, regulatory zoning maps), a precise and realistic assessment of exploitable volumes has been performed. The authors also assessed capacities of the French forest to meet production objectives which could be defined for the twenty years to come. Two scenarios have been used in the implemented models: a scenario of constant forestry (same practices as now over 20 years) and a scenario of progressive dynamic management (evolution of species to obtain an increase of volume production). Wood availabilities are distributed among different potential uses: construction, industry and energy, and small woods. Unworkable volumes are taken into account. Demand is also modelled according to different market scenarios, and results obtained by supply scenarios and demand scenarios are compared

[en] This study aims at determining the bio-methane production potential by using so-called second-generation technologies in France in order to inject it into the natural gas network by 2020 or 2050. The second-generation production process is described: gasification, cleaning, methanation, compliance with specifications. Energetic and environmental performances of these processes are also addressed. Different biomass are considered (forest biomass, sawmill by-products, wood wastes, paper sludge, crops, energetic cops, agro-food industry by-products) within three prospective scenarios

[en] After a presentation of the technical aspects of microalgae processing, and comments on its integration within third-generation biomethane production sector, the authors describe the methodological framework of their study: scope and identification of economic sectors potentially in charge of 3. generation biomethane production, characterization of technological scenarios and technical hypotheses, aggregation and sensitivity analysis on the biomethane production potential. Results are commented in terms of potential of deployment of the microalgae technology within each identified sector, of production of third-generation biomethane by the identified sectors, and of third-generation biomethane production by 2020 and by 2050. Appendices notably give examples of microalgae production technologies, and give sheets of analysis of the potential of implementation of microalgae technologies for different sectors: chemistry-refinery-petro chemistry, agro-food industries, paper, rubber, textile, plastics engineering, metallurgy, materials, farming, crops, thermal power stations, gas infrastructures, etc.

[en] Within a context of development of projects which consume large quantities of forest pellets, this publication addresses the following issues: characterization of the forest pellet for energy (definition, quality parameters, standards and classification), forest resources, deposits and availabilities of wood energy in forest (the French forest as an important source of renewable energy, deposit assessment and harvest predictions, integration of wood energy harvest into a sustainable management of the French forest, wood energy in forest and territorial policies, wood energy valorisation in a forest massif), general principles of forest pellet production (production steps and equipment, production optimisation principles, costs of production operations), ways and costs of forest pellet production (detailed sheets per production way and production costs), storage, drying, packaging and delivery, and supply in forest pellets for wood boilers (prices, consumption according to the boiler type, supply modes and suppliers, technical and contractual securing of supplies). This publication also aims at providing answers to questions which can be asked by landlords of forest properties (interest, consequences of wood energy production, potential assessment, revenue calculation), by forest exploitation managers (harvest planning and organisation, reasons to advice a landlord), by forest exploitation companies and associated commercialisation structures (expected profitability, influence of tree population, necessary equipment for pellet production, pellet storage and drying systems, quality and quantity production, cost and price determination, transport and delivery organisation), heating installers (how to deal with pellet purchase), or public commissioners (pellet purchase mode, expected impact on territorial forests, wood and forest potential for wood energy production, environmental performance of a forest pellet supply, issue of the security of supply)

[en] The Resobio project (management of forest slash: preservation of soils and biodiversity) aimed at updating knowledge available at the international level (with a focus on temperate areas) on the potential consequences of forest slash sampling on fertility and on biodiversity, and at identifying orientations for recommendations for a revision of the ADEME guide of 2006 on wise collecting of forest slash. The first part of this report is a synthesis report which gives an overview of results about twenty issues dealing with the nature of wood used for energy production and the role of slash, about the consequences of this type of collecting for soil fertility and species productivity, and about impacts on biodiversity. Based on these elements, recommendations are made for slash management and for additional follow-up and research. The second part contains five scientific and technical reports which more deeply analyse the issue of fertility, and technical documents on slash management (guides) published in various countries