Perceptions of energy production from forest biomass among school students in Finland: Directions for the future bioenergy policies

• Finnish school students' perceptions of forest-based bioenergy production for heat and power were investigated.
• Students' criticality toward energy production from forest biomass appeared.
• Statistically significant gender and residential differences appeared in the students' perceptions.
• Key dimensions of the students' perceptions of forest-based bioenergy production were revealed.
• Collaboration between energy and educational policies is recommended.

Bioenergy production from forest biomass is expected to increase in Finland in order to meet the country's target for renewable energy production. However, little is known about young generations' perceptions of this future development in Finland. The study conducted a survey among ninth-grade Finnish school students studying in eight rural and urban schools in eastern Finland in order to explore their perceptions of bioenergy production from forest biomass for heat and power. Statistically significant gender and residential (urban–rural) differences appeared among the students related to their perceptions of forest-based bioenergy production. The students appeared to be very critical toward bioenergy production from forest biomass particularly with the issues related to its sustainability, environmental friendliness, and the future role of wood energy in overall bioenergy production. Categorical principal component analysis revealed two key dimensions of the students' perceptions of forest-based bioenergy production while the multiple regression analysis showed the factors that determined their critical perceptions toward the future of wood-based bioenergy production. The study recommends energy and educational policy makers to increase awareness of forest-based bioenergy production among young students. In this respect, schools, parents, and media can also play an important role to engage young students in bioenergy related discussions.