IUFRO Meeting-Zvolen 2008

Between sustainability and bioenergetic use: Legal and technical aspects of
enhancing the use of woody biomass in Albania
GAZMEND ZENELI ∗ , ABDULLA DIKU ∗∗ , GENTI ÇUPI ∗∗∗ and HAKI KOLA ∗∗∗
Abstract
Albanian energy demand has been strongly increasing over the past years and the country’s
energy supply is dominated by hydro powers providing more than 95% of total electricity
supply. The national policy makers have recognized the necessity and urgency to diversify the
energetic sources and are seeking for new and renewable, locally available alternative
sources. With increasing concern about energy security and greenhouse gas emissions,
growing attention has been drawn to biomass as a renewable and carbon-neutral energy
resource. One of the most promising energetic resources in Albania derives from the forestry
sector. This is not only because of the fact that its amount is abundant but as well because
energy utilization of woody biomass is expected to contribute to revitalizing the forest and
forest products industries which have been depressed for a long time. Another argument is
that it maintains the relevant ecological (including biological diversity), economic, and social
functions of man-made forests which are behind in tending. To formulate sustainable energy
solutions based on the forest sector, it is indispensable to make reliable estimates of the
locally available biomass sources. This paper reviews the current situation of woody biomass
energy development in Albania, particularly its relationship to sustainable development. The
work includes an assessment of biomass available in Albanian forests and discuses the legal
and technical aspects of enhancing the bioenergetic use of woody biomass in the country.
Improvements in technical, legal, institutional and policy-related support for further
development are some of the possible roads to boost woody biomass energy in Albania.
Keywords: Albania, Biomass, Bioenergy, Forest Policy, Short Rotation Plantations,
Sustainability.
Introduction
Climate change, energy and food security are undoubtedly the central themes of the present
and of the future. Therefore it is important to develop common strategies to combat climate
change, safeguard food and energy supply and conserve biological diversity. A significant
advantage of renewable resources lies in their contribution to the conservation of finite fossil
resources. The use of renewable resources is largely CO2-neutral: there is no additional
greenhouse effect, and life cycles are closed. A plant used for biomass energy grows by
removing carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis. Using that plant as biomass
energy returns the carbon dioxide to the atmosphere with no net change in the amount of
carbon in the atmosphere, plants, or soils (Canadell and Raupach, 2008). Biomass energy
sources have real potential to heighten energy security in regions without abundant fossil fuel
reserves, to increase supplies of liquid transportation fuels and to decrease net emissions of
carbon into the atmosphere per unit of energy delivered (Field et al. 2008). One of the
potential bioenergy sources is woody biomass from either conventional forests or energy
∗ Faculty of Forestry Sciences, Agricultural University of Tirana, 10000 Kodër Kamëz, Tirana – Albania (Author
for correspondence: E-mail: gzeneli2000@yahoo.de)
∗∗ Diava Consulting, P.O. Box 228/1, 1800, Tirana – Albania
∗∗∗ National Resources Management Project, Rruga “Sami Frasheri” No. 4, Tirana, Albania
∗∗∗ National Resources Management Project, Rruga “Sami Frasheri” No. 4, Tirana, Albania
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