TITLE:
Assessing the Biomass Potential of Major Industrial Tree Plantation Species for Green Energy Production
AUTHORS:
Roger T. Sarmiento, Rowena P. Varela
KEYWORDS:
Industrial Tree Plantation Species, Biomass, Green Energy Generation, Renewable Energy
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.5 No.5,
July
6,
2015
ABSTRACT: Energy requirements in both urban and rural areas are increasing giving
added stress to the power generators and energy sources, thus blackouts are
becoming common scenarios. Renewable energy from tree biomass is being eyed to
provide solution to insufficient energy supply. A component of the green energy
generation project is to assess the biomass potential of major industrial tree
plantation species in the region at various ages, to determine the
sustainability of a biomass-based green energy generation. Actual field
measurements of biomass in selected plantations were conducted. In the field
inventory, a plot measuring 10 × 50 meters was laid out randomly on the sampling site. For all trees
inside the plot, the basal diameter and diameter at breast height for ages 1 to
2 years old and 3 to 5 years old, respectively were recorded. The results
revealed that the biomass of major industrial tree species in Year 1 followed
the order: Mangium (Acacia mangium) > Ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala)
> Falcata (Paraserianthes falcataria) > Bagras (Eucalyptus
deglupta). However, as the trees mature, the biomass generation changed
with Falcata overtaking Mangium. The order then was: Falcata (Paraserianthes
falcataria) > Mangium (Acacia mangium) > Ipil-ipil (Leucaena
leucocephala) > Bagras (Eucalyptus deglupta). Of the major
industrial tree species, Falcata (Paraserianthes falcataria) and Mangium
(Acacia mangium) are noted to have the biggest potential in supplying
the biomass requirement of the green energy plant.