The objectives of this study were to quantify and qualify the residual biomass produced in commercial plantations of Pinus taeda L. in different ages and management systems, aiming at generating energy in co-generation systems. The ages of the forests were: 3 years (first pruning), 6 years (third pruning), 10 years (third pruning), 12 years (first thinning), 14 years (first thinning), 16 (second thinning) and 24 years (harvesting). Five trees were harvested at each age and their separate components were weighed and analyzed for moisture content and calorific value. Quantitative and qualitative data were correlated to determine the potential for generating electricity from forest biomass. The plantations of Pinus taeda L. produced 30-95 tonnes of forestry biomass/ha, respectively, at 3 and 24 years of age. The highest yield potential of biomass for energy generation are harvesting (24 years), first thinning (14 years) and third pruning (10 years), respectively. The best quality material for power generation was the branch with the lowest moisture content (54%) and higher net calorific value (1784 kcal/kg), and the best ages were 24, 14 and 10 years. The management system and forestry practices have an influence, together with age on biomass production per unit area. The energy performance of newly harvested biomass is low, requiring treatment to reduce the moisture content and increase in net calorific value.
Residues; Energetic efficiency; Cogeneration
