Forest bioenergy is the use of renewable forestry biomass to produce energy products. Forest biomass is any plant matter or tree material produced by forest growth that can be converted to an energy source. It includes agricultural materials, tree residue from managed forests and wood waste from urban areas.

Forest landowners and existing forest industry have the potential to grow this new bioenergy industry rapidly by providing the needed biomass fuel and infrastructure for new mills that will produce wood pellets, industrial heat, electricity, and transportation fuels. Maintaining a balance of forest growth and utilization in the long term is an important part of sustainability.

Types of Forest Biomass

Merchantable Stem Wood

Tops and Branches of Harvested Trees

Understory and Cull Trees

Fuel-reduction Thinning

Mill Residues

Urban Wood Waste

Four types of energy products can be derived from forest biomass.

Thermal Energy

Electrical Generation

Transportation Fuels

Wood Pellets

Forest Biomass Sustainability

Forest sustainability has been defined as growing and utilizing forest resources in a way that meets the demands of the present without compromising the ability of our forests to meet the demands of the future. Maintaining a balance of forest growth and utilization in the long term is an important part of sustainability. In addition, other forestry benefits and attributes should be recognized when growing and harvesting forests for any product.

Biomass Supply

GFC cooperates with the U.S. Forest Service in conducting forest inventories through the Forest Inventory and Analysis program (FIA). The Commission also conducts industry surveys, which quantify forest resource use and residue production. Data from these and other sources are used to provide statewide and local assessments of forest biomass. The Commission has calculated that over 9 million tons (oven dry basis) of unutilized forestry biomass could be captured by the bioenergy industry each year based on the Forestry Biomass Estimates for Georgia, General Statewide Assessments.

In addition, Georgia’s timberlands are growing over 9 million tons (oven dry basis) more wood each year than is being removed. These data sources and analyses indicate that expansion of the bioenergy industry can be accomplished without threatening sustainability of the forest resources.

Biomass Harvesting

Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality should be followed during biomass harvests. In addition, landowners should be aware that any intensive forest biomass harvest may affect other management objectives including: maintaining soil productivity, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity. The GFC manages a forest water quality program and performs compliance surveys on BMPs implementation.


Helpful Resources

TitleDescriptionDocument Type
2023-07-25-BiomassSupplierListPDF
Analysis of the Feasibility of Forest Biomass Production (2011)PDF
Biomass Assessment Services for Industry (2008)PDF
Biomass Designation and Tracking for Renewable Biofuels ProductionPDF
Energy Balance of Wood PelletsPDF
Forestry Biomass Assessment for Georgia (2021)PDF
Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)

GDEcD is the state’s lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, aligning workforce education and training with in-demand jobs, locating new markets for Georgia products, and planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.

External Website
Mechanisms for Securing Longterm Forest Biomass SupplyPDF
Overview of Timber and Biomass Supply ChainPDF

Forest Biomass FAQs

What is biomass?

How does biomass from forest residue differ from corn biomass?

What can be done with biomass?

What is ethanol?

What are wood pellets used for?

How does the production of biomass and ethanol affect the environment?

Why develop the biomass industry?

How does Georgia fit into the biomass/ethanol picture?

How quickly can Georgia become a leader in the production of biomass and ethanol?

What would be the economic impact of a new biomass industry in Georgia?