BioSINK

Impact of the use of forest biomass for energy in Germany on German and international LULUCF sinks

Kletr - stock.adobe.com

Germany has set itself ambitious climate protection targets with the Climate Protection Act: greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by 65% in 2030 and by 88% in 2040 compared to 1990 levels. Climate neutrality is to be achieved by 2045. The promotion of renewable energy sources will play a decisive role in achieving these targets. A range of different regulations and funding instruments have therefore been established to promote their expansion. Within renewable energies, wood energy is of central importance. However, the Climate Protection Act now also sets a target for the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector: in 2030, the LULUCF sector is to achieve an emissions balance of -25 million tonnes of CO2, i.e. to emit more CO2 than greenhouse gases. In 2040, this so-called sink is to increase to -40 million tonnes of CO2 in order to compensate for emissions that are difficult to avoid, e.g. in agriculture and industry. Achieving the target depends heavily on the forest sink. However, the more intensively the forest is managed, the lower the sink capacity of the trees. In addition, the use of wood for energy does not contribute to wood product storage. Increased utilisation of forest wood for energy purposes can therefore make it more difficult to achieve the LULUCF targets of the Federal Climate Protection Act.

In the area of conflict between the expansion of renewable energies, including energy wood from the forest, and the necessary sink capacity of the forest area, this project examines the effects of current wood energy utilisation in Germany on the sink capacity of the forest at home and abroad. In addition, the changes in the demand for wood that can be expected as a result of existing subsidy instruments will be analysed. Different scenarios are calculated in a modelling network depending on support instruments and assumptions on forest management. Through the choice of scenarios, sensitivity analyses and modelling of the influence of German wood energy use on LULUCF sinks, the project results should make it possible to recommend funding instruments.