EN
The forecasted increase in the usage of energy generated from biomass entails the necessity for securing it’s adequate supply. The most accessible type of biomass is forest biomass. The chance for increase in its volume lies in the utilization of stump wood, that is the underground part of trees which is not currently being used. Harvesting and processing stump wood is very complex due to its technological difficulties as well as the profitability of such ventures. The article presents development of energy sector based on forest biomass and provides the analysis of the volume of both electric and heat energy generated from solid biomass between 2004 and 2014. The potential components of forest biomass that have been assigned for generating energy have been indicated with a special emphasis on stump wood. It’s volume has been estimated based on the long-term forecast for wood supply for energy sector. Technological, ecological, economic aspects of utilizing stump wood have been analysed. A method for evaluating the profitability of processing stump wood into chips and directly into energy has been proposed.