Biomass potentials of miscanthus, willow and poplar: results and policy implications for Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia

Results of potential productivity for miscanthus, willow and poplars in countries of Eastern Europe and Northern and Central Asia are presented for (i) all suitable areas, (ii) all suitable areas but excluding forests, urban areas and land that is potentially highly suitable for cereal production. The results show a large variation in potentials for bio-energy in the various countries. In a few countries-Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Georgia, Belarus and Azerbaijan, the potential for producing energy from miscanthus, poplar and willow alone is more than one-third of the current commercial energy use in these countries, even when forests and land potentially highly suitable for cereals are excluded from the assessment.