Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of Sustainability

Biomass is the primary source of renewable energy in Poland. Its share in renewable energy production in Poland has decreased in recent years, but it still maintains a nearly 70% share. Poland has extensive forest and straw resources, such as pellets, which can be used for stable biomass production....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rafał Wyszomierski, Piotr Bórawski, Lisa Holden, Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska, Tomasz Rokicki, Andrzej Parzonko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Resources
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/2/19
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850229910006661120
author Rafał Wyszomierski
Piotr Bórawski
Lisa Holden
Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska
Tomasz Rokicki
Andrzej Parzonko
author_facet Rafał Wyszomierski
Piotr Bórawski
Lisa Holden
Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska
Tomasz Rokicki
Andrzej Parzonko
author_sort Rafał Wyszomierski
collection DOAJ
description Biomass is the primary source of renewable energy in Poland. Its share in renewable energy production in Poland has decreased in recent years, but it still maintains a nearly 70% share. Poland has extensive forest and straw resources, such as pellets, which can be used for stable biomass production. The main objective of this research was to understand the potential of plant biomass production for energy purposes in Poland and other European Union (EU) countries in terms of sustainable development. The period of analysis covered 2000–2022. Secondary data from Statistical Poland and Eurostat were used. The primary research method was the Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test, which aimed to check the stationarity of stable biomass. Moreover, we calculated the Vector Auto-Regressive (VAR) model, which was used to develop the forecast. The indigenous production of solid biomass in 2022 decreased to 363,195 TJ, while in 2018, it was 384,914 TJ. Our prognosis confirms that biomass will increase. The prognosis based on the VAR model shows an increase from 365,395 TJ in 2023 to 379,795 (TJ) in 2032. Such countries as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Finland have a bigger potential for solid biomass production from forests because of their higher area. As a result, Poland’s biomass production competitiveness is varied when compared to other EU nations; it is lower for nations with a large forest share and greater for those with a low forest cover. The two main benefits of producing solid biomass are its easy storage and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) neutrality. The main advantage is that solid biomass preserves biodiversity, maintains soil fertility, and improves soil quality while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollutants. The ability to leave added value locally and generate new jobs, particularly in troubled areas, is the largest social advantage of sustained biomass production.
format Article
id doaj-art-e3559dd976104382ae3ef5bcff0855be
institution OA Journals
issn 2079-9276
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Resources
spelling doaj-art-e3559dd976104382ae3ef5bcff0855be2025-08-20T02:04:02ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762025-01-011421910.3390/resources14020019Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of SustainabilityRafał Wyszomierski0Piotr Bórawski1Lisa Holden2Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska3Tomasz Rokicki4Andrzej Parzonko5International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża, Studencka 19, 18-402 Łomża, PolandDepartment of Agrotechnology and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Agrotechnology and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandManagement Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, PolandEconomics Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, PolandBiomass is the primary source of renewable energy in Poland. Its share in renewable energy production in Poland has decreased in recent years, but it still maintains a nearly 70% share. Poland has extensive forest and straw resources, such as pellets, which can be used for stable biomass production. The main objective of this research was to understand the potential of plant biomass production for energy purposes in Poland and other European Union (EU) countries in terms of sustainable development. The period of analysis covered 2000–2022. Secondary data from Statistical Poland and Eurostat were used. The primary research method was the Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test, which aimed to check the stationarity of stable biomass. Moreover, we calculated the Vector Auto-Regressive (VAR) model, which was used to develop the forecast. The indigenous production of solid biomass in 2022 decreased to 363,195 TJ, while in 2018, it was 384,914 TJ. Our prognosis confirms that biomass will increase. The prognosis based on the VAR model shows an increase from 365,395 TJ in 2023 to 379,795 (TJ) in 2032. Such countries as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Finland have a bigger potential for solid biomass production from forests because of their higher area. As a result, Poland’s biomass production competitiveness is varied when compared to other EU nations; it is lower for nations with a large forest share and greater for those with a low forest cover. The two main benefits of producing solid biomass are its easy storage and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) neutrality. The main advantage is that solid biomass preserves biodiversity, maintains soil fertility, and improves soil quality while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollutants. The ability to leave added value locally and generate new jobs, particularly in troubled areas, is the largest social advantage of sustained biomass production.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/2/19biomassrenewable energy sourcescompetitivenesssustainable developmentEuropean Union
spellingShingle Rafał Wyszomierski
Piotr Bórawski
Lisa Holden
Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska
Tomasz Rokicki
Andrzej Parzonko
Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of Sustainability
Resources
biomass
renewable energy sources
competitiveness
sustainable development
European Union
title Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of Sustainability
title_full Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of Sustainability
title_fullStr Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of Sustainability
title_full_unstemmed Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of Sustainability
title_short Competitive Potential of Stable Biomass in Poland Compared to the European Union in the Aspect of Sustainability
title_sort competitive potential of stable biomass in poland compared to the european union in the aspect of sustainability
topic biomass
renewable energy sources
competitiveness
sustainable development
European Union
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/14/2/19
work_keys_str_mv AT rafałwyszomierski competitivepotentialofstablebiomassinpolandcomparedtotheeuropeanunionintheaspectofsustainability
AT piotrborawski competitivepotentialofstablebiomassinpolandcomparedtotheeuropeanunionintheaspectofsustainability
AT lisaholden competitivepotentialofstablebiomassinpolandcomparedtotheeuropeanunionintheaspectofsustainability
AT anetabełdyckaborawska competitivepotentialofstablebiomassinpolandcomparedtotheeuropeanunionintheaspectofsustainability
AT tomaszrokicki competitivepotentialofstablebiomassinpolandcomparedtotheeuropeanunionintheaspectofsustainability
AT andrzejparzonko competitivepotentialofstablebiomassinpolandcomparedtotheeuropeanunionintheaspectofsustainability