Complexity of Assessing Future Forest Bioenergy Markets - Review of Bioenergy Potential Estimates in the European Union

Purpose of Review The European Union’s targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have led to the increasing demand for forest biomass in energy production, which, in turn, has raised questions about the adequacy of supply and the sustainability of forest biomass resources for energy. Although the prospects of using biomass for energy have been studied extensively, the outcomes and estimates differ widely between studies. Understanding the differences between the estimates can facilitate their utilisation in policy and investment planning. In this review, we identify and summarise the factors and assumptions affecting the forest bioenergy potential estimates.