Wooden Biomass Potential From Apple Orchards in Poland

A side product emerging during apple orchard cultivation is pruned biomass, which may be used for energetic purposes. As Poland is the third largest producer of apples in the world, it is crucial to estimate the annual energetic potential of branches from apple tree pruning. In this paper, the theoretical, technical and economic potential of cut branches for energy production with distribution according to provinces (Voivodeships) is determined. Based on literature reviews and our own measurements the amount of produced branches was estimated to be 3.5 Mgha -1 year -1 . It was shown, that the energetic potential of pruned biomass from apple trees in Poland is in the range of 7.9-12.5 PJyear -1 . Moreover, the abundance of that potential depends on the province and for a single Voivodeship, may vary from 0.04 PJyear -1 up to 4.8 PJyear -1 .