The Studies of Forest-based and Energy Crops Biomass-for-Energy Use in Northern Oblasts of Ukraine were conducted by PPV Knowledge Networks in February-August 2018. The key purpose of the market research was to explore the level of biomass-for-energy use in Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts and discover the potential for deeper collaboration among market players of respective regions in Northern Ukraine and Southern Belarus.

As part of research, PPV Knowledge Networks’ analysts carried out a survey on key challenges and issues among over 350 market players (mainly SMEs) in the region and, consequently, portrayed their business profiles. The target audience was mainly SMEs - producers of wood pellets, briquettes, and chips; biomass energy companies as well as business support organisations. The study included data analysis of forest-based biomass supply available for energy purposes; value chain review from wood logging to biomass power supply; logistic aspects; and sales channels. In addition, we evaluated the potential of the marginal and degraded lands available for planting energy crops (energy willow, miscanthus). The study described the best cases of pellet production and export cases, solid biomass-based heat and power generation, and agro-energy companies. Based on key findings, we prepared recommendations to close the gaps on the biomass market and presented possible ways for transboundary collaboration between the market players of Ukraine and Belarus.

The study has been commissioned in Ukrainian only within the technical assistance project “Biomass Energy: Turning Natural Potential into Regional Partnerships” co-funded by the EU under the Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation (EaPTC) Programme Belarus-Ukraine.