This report takes a closer look at the Finnish pilot. It is important to understand the wider framework of bio-based products as energy source. According to the EU, biomass – in its widest sense – stands for biodegradable fraction of products, wastes and residues from biological origin from agriculture (including vegetable and animal substances), forestry and related industries including fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste. Basically, this means that any material of organic origin can be considered as biomass. In energy production this usually relates to wood, straw, vegetable oil, manure, and agricultural-industrial and organic waste.

In this report the focus is on biomass products derived from forests. Forest and wood-based industries produce wood, which in turn is the largest resource of solid biomass. Biomass can be used to produce biomass fuels such as wood logs and chips, bark, sawdust and pellets. The second chapter of the report begins with a more strategic review of bioenergy strategies in EMMA partner countries and especially in Finland. Regional level strategies are also considered since they reflect the willingness in the pilot regions to bring environmentally friendly energy production and transportation closer together.
The third chapter describes a pilot case from Päijät-Häme region linking the opportunity to store raw wood and use it as energy source. The changes for similar activities are even better in North Karelia region. This relates to Finland’s long history in forestry. Log floating through inland waterways (mainly rivers) used to be a common sight in the country at the beginning of the 20th century. A closer look at this and other potential of inland waterway transport is studied in chapter 4. The report is summarised in the concluding chapter 5.