What have we learnt?

Biomass supply chains and technology

Over the past decade, substantial progress has been made in understanding biomass supply chains, particularly in how technology, logistics, stakeholder preferences, and sustainability criteria shape their design and operation. A multidisciplinary approach combining engineering, economics, and policy research has generated insights into improving the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of forest-based biomass systems across Europe and beyond.

Supply Chain Logistics and Operations. Research has emphasized the complexity and variability of forest biomass supply chains, highlighting the importance of organizational structure in influencing efficiency. Windisch et al. (2013) used business process mapping and discrete-event simulation to compare Finnish and German biomass supply chains, revealing that organizational tasks accounted for over 1400 minutes of work per 100 m³, underlining the significance of operational planning. Further, Mola-Yudego et al. (2015) showed that chipper productivity is highly influenced by operator performance, with operator effects explaining a significant portion of productivity variability—an essential insight for workforce training and planning. The rutting risk of machinery in sensitive peatlands was also studied, where Ala-Ilomäki et al. (2021) found that both track type and forwarder design significantly affect ground damage, offering a basis for improved equipment choices in soft soils. Mapping of Europe’s wood‐pellet industry identifies four production clusters—Central Europe, Scandinavia, Finland and the Baltic—that together account for over half of the continent’s 11.5 Mt yr⁻¹ capacity, highlighting existing supply‐chain synergies (Mola‐Yudego, Selkimäki, & González‐Olabarria, 2014).

Technological Developments and Preferences. Technology selection in biomass operations is a key determinant of system performance. Röser et al. (2011, 2012) and Schilling et al. (2025) addressed innovations in forest machinery, emphasizing the need for technology adaptations that match local site conditions and feedstock types. Meanwhile, end-user perspectives have become increasingly central in system design. Kons et al. (2022) conducted a conjoint analysis with industry stakeholders and found that biomass assortment—particularly sawdust and stem wood chips—was the most critical attribute in procurement decisions. These preferences influence not only feedstock pricing and logistics but also the viability of regional biohubs.

Sustainability Criteria and System Evaluation. Sustainability assessments have grown in sophistication, reflecting broader environmental and social concerns. Mola-Yudego et al. (2024) applied an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to expert survey data, identifying greenhouse gas reduction and rural revitalization as top sustainability priorities. Interestingly, expert preferences clustered into two main groups: one prioritizing environmental criteria and the other economic, highlighting diverging normative frameworks in biomass policy debates. This heterogeneity underscores the need for transparent, multi-criteria decision frameworks in policy development and investment planning.

System Integration and Planning Tools. Several studies also stress the importance of holistic approaches that integrate logistics, technology, and policy. Röser et al. (2012) and Prinz et al. (2022, 2025) argue for advanced modeling tools and performance indicators that enable dynamic assessment of biomass potential, resource mobilization, and technology adoption. These tools are crucial for balancing biomass supply with end-use requirements, and for identifying bottlenecks and cost-drivers in real-world operations.

References

Ala-Ilomäki, J., Lindeman, H., Mola-Yudego, B., Prinz, R., Väätäinen, K., Talbot, B., & Routa, J. (2021). The effect of bogie track and forwarder design on rut formation in a peatland. International Journal of Forest Engineering, 32(sup1), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2021.1935167Kons, K., Blagojević, B., Mola-Yudego, B., Prinz, R., Routa, J., Kulišić, B., Gagnon, B., & Bergström, D. (2022). Industrial end-users’ preferred characteristics for wood biomass feedstocks. Energies, 15(10), Article 3721. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103721Mola-Yudego, B., Picchi, G., Röser, D., & Spinelli, R. (2015). Assessing chipper productivity and operator effects in forest biomass operations. Silva Fennica, 49(5), Article 1342. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1342Mola-Yudego, B., Dimitriou, I., Gagnon, B., Schweinle, J., & Kulišić, B. (2024). Priorities for the sustainability criteria of biomass supply chains for energy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 434, Article 140075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140075Mola-Yudego, B., Selkimäki, M., & González-Olabarria, J. R. (2014). Spatial analysis of the wood pellet production for energy in Europe. Renewable Energy, 63, 76-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.08.034Prinz, R., Mola-Yudego, B., & Erber, G. (2025). Transferring synchromodal principles to forest biomass supply: A holistic approach to supply chain design. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 61, Article 101389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2025.101389Prinz, R., Mola-Yudego, B., Ala-Ilomäki, J., Väätäinen, K., Lindeman, H., Talbot, B., & Routa, J. (2022). Soil, driving speed and driving intensity affect fuel consumption of forwarders. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.5552/crojfe.2023.1725Röser, D., Mola-Yudego, B., Prinz, R., Emer, B., & Sikanen, L. (2012). Chipping operations and efficiency in different operational environments. Silva Fennica, 46(2). https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.60Röser, D., Mola-Yudego, B., Sikanen, L., Prinz, R., Gritten, D., Emer, B., & Erkkilä, A. (2011). Natural drying treatments during seasonal storage of wood for bioenergy in different European locations. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35(2), 423–4247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.07.011 Schilling, C., Mola-Yudego, B., Marinescu, M., Gaston, C., & Röser, D. (2025). Biomass gasification as a viable alternative for small-scaled combined heat and power technologies in remote communities in Canada. BioEnergy Research, 18, Article 19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-024-10812-wWindisch, J., Röser, D., Mola-Yudego, B., Sikanen, L., & Asikainen, A. (2013). Business process mapping and discrete-event simulation of two forest biomass supply chains. Biomass and Bioenergy, 56, 370–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.05.022

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