Production and consumption of wood in the EU27 In the EU27, almost half of renewable energy comes from wood & wood waste Shares above 80% in Estonia, Lithuania, Finland and Poland

Reference: STAT/12/168 Event Date: 29/11/2012

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STAT/12/168

29 November 2012

Production and consumption of wood in the EU27
In the EU27, almost half of renewable energy comes from wood & wood waste
Shares above 80% in Estonia, Lithuania, Finland and Poland

Wood is a natural resource which is used for different purposes, including as a renewable source of energy1. In 2010, wood and wood waste1 contributed 5% to total gross inland energy consumption1 in the EU27, and it was the leading source of renewable energy, accounting for almost half of the EU27's consumption of renewables.

Among the Member States, the highest shares of wood and wood waste in total gross inland energy consumption in 2010 were recorded in Latvia (27%), Finland (21%) and Sweden (19%), while it was 1% or less in Cyprus, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom.

In the majority of Member States, wood and wood waste was the main source of renewable energy. It accounted for more than three quarters of gross inland energy consumption from renewables in 2010 in Estonia (96%), Lithuania (88%), Finland (85%), Poland (81%), Latvia (78%) and Hungary (77%), and less than a quarter in Cyprus (13%) and Italy (24%).

This information is issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union in connection with the 2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for all, which offers an opportunity to raise public awareness of sustainable access to energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

In the EU27, fuelwood accounted for 21% of roundwood production in 2011

In 2011, 429 million cubic meters (m3) of roundwood2 were produced in the EU27, of which around one fifth was fuelwood2 which contributes to the generation of energy. Wood resources in the EU27 are used in a sustainable way as the volume of increments exceeds the volume of wood production by around half, which indicates that a possible further increase of the demand for fuelwood would be sustainable.

In 2011, roundwood production was highest in Sweden (72 mn m3), Germany (56 mn m3), France (54 mn m3) and Finland (51 mn m3). These four Member States together accounted for more than half of total roundwood production in the EU27.

Roundwood can be divided into two different categories: industrial roundwood2 and fuelwood. In almost all Member States, industrial roundwood dominated production, with the highest shares found in Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovakia (all 93% of roundwood production). In 2011, only three Member States produced more fuelwood than industrial roundwood: Italy (fuelwood represented 74% of roundwood production), Greece (72%) and Hungary (52%).

Wood as a source of energy & production of roundwood

: Data not available

* roundwood production is less than 0.1 million m3

** no roundwood production

Data are provisional

• Renewable sources of energy cover hydro power, wind energy, solar energy, biomass and wastes and geothermal energy. Wood and wood waste is part of the category "biomass and wastes". Wood & wood waste covers purpose-grown energy crops (poplar, willow, etc.), a multitude of woody materials generated by industrial processes or provided directly by forestry and agriculture (firewood, wood chips, bark, sawdust, shavings, chips, etc.). Gross inland energy consumption is defined as primary production plus imports, recovered products and stock change, less exports and fuel supply to maritime bunkers (for seagoing ships of all flags). It therefore reflects the energy necessary to satisfy inland consumption within the limits of national territory.

• Roundwood comprises all wood (industrial roundwood and fuelwood) removed from forests and from trees outside the forest, including wood recovered from natural, felling and logging losses. Fuelwood: Roundwood that will be used as fuel for purposes such as cooking, heating or energy production. It also includes wood chips to be used for fuel that are made directly from roundwood. Industrial roundwood: includes logs (used for the production of sawnwood and veneer sheets), pulpwood (used for the manufacture of pulp, particle board and fibreboard) and other industrial wood (includes timber for the manufacture of poles, piling, posts or fencing.).