Project Objective & Brief Description: |
Identification and removing of barriers to market for the cost-effective nationwide utilization of wood and wood waste in municipal heating and hot water supply in the Republic of Belarus.
This project reflected the fact that although rich in forest resources, and growing more wood than it uses, Belarus obtained only two percent of its energy from wood waste. In many other forest-rich countries, the proportion could be as high as 10%. By increasing the use of wood waste as a source of fuel, Belarus could reduce its dependence on imported energy, which covers 85% of its energy needs.
The project also had an important environmental component, since reliance on renewable energy sources result in less damage on the environment and lower greenhouse gas emissions than with conventional fossil fuels.
Those two considerations-economic and environmental-had brought together the Belarusian Government and the Global Environment Facility as partners in funding the project. Its initial objective was to propose strategies to create a conducive environment for wider use of wood waste as a fuel source, which in turn, could be implemented on a nation-wide basis.
Such a strategy had to address a number of issues. It was important, for example, to ensure that using wood waste as a source of energy was cost-effective. It was also necessary to provide proper economic incentives and address various organisational aspects - such as establishing a reliable supply of wood waste and procurement of efficient heating equipment. By engaging in a number of selected pilot communities, the project developed the tools and mechanisms needed to promote wider use of wood waste as an energy source.
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