Optimizing the utilization of harvested wood products for maximum greenhouse gas emission reduction in a bioeconomy: A multi-objective optimization approach
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Climate change mitigation in a bioeconomy can be attained by increased use of harvested wood products. Thereby, substitution effects can contribute to reducing the Global Warming Potential, and storage effects can prevent direct carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Substitution and storage effects are often only considered as marginal changes. However, an absolute upper limit exists for these effects due to limited harvesting of forests. The maximum emission reduction potential of these two effects depends on the distribution of wood across wood value chains. This study investigates how wood can be distributed optimally across value chains to achieve the maximum climate change mitigation potential by substitution and storage effects, taking a multi-objective optimization approach. Results indicate that sawable wood should be utilized in sawnwood applications to achieve the highest GHG emission reduction, while non-sawable wood contributes to maximal storage effects when used in material applications. The highest substitution effects occur when non-sawable wood is used for energy production. Both substitution and storage effects lead to a substantial mitigation effect, whereby storage effects yield a higher total reduction. The presented optimization method overcomes the limitations of marginal considerations and highlights opportunities for climate change mitigation within these limits. This study emphasizes the importance of taking a systems perspective on climate change mitigation in a bioeconomy and of understanding the limits of these effects regarding environmental policies and management. • A system's perspective on climate change mitigation in a bioeconomy is needed. • Climate change mitigation by marginal substitution and storage effects is limited. • Multi-objective optimization is used to determine the maximum mitigation potential. • The potential reduction by storage effects is higher than for substitution effects. • Optimal wood utilization is achieved when used for high-quality and long-term uses.
Institutions: University of Graz, Kompetenzzentrum Holz
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,850
Awards: G2111948199, G3652273180, G7139753148
OpenAlex ID: W4404802230