Policies and their implementation tools enhancing the energy wood market. A comparative case study of Finland and Slovakia

The aims of the study are to conduct comparative analyses of the forest policies and their provisions supporting the use of forest resources in bioenergy generation, to look into the governments energy policies and their provisions supporting the use of renewable energy, to analyse the market for energy wood and the barriers hindering its use for energy generation in two selected countries. Finland and Slovakia were chosen for the analysis. The aims of the study also include outlining the specific policy tools and the marketing tools with their activities, which could improve the conditions in the energy wood market. The comparative case study also includes analyses of the barriers and a SWOT analysis of the energy wood market. The results of the study point out the high indicative targets set by the European Commission for the share of renewable energy sources in the total energy consumption in the studied countries. On the other hand, the National Forest Programmes and the national energy policies in both countries include a number of indicative priorities supporting the utilization of forest biomass. Both countries have adopted several legislative, financial, and other measures supporting the use of biomass for energy generation. Nevertheless, they differ substantially in regard to the level of use of forest-based resources as renewable energy sources. The current share of renewable energy sources in the total energy consumption of Finland is 28%, while in Slovakia it is less than 7%. The results of the SWOT analyses based on the outcomes of several national and international projects point especially to the threat of the global financial crisis and global warming. Moreover, the activities of six marketing tools, specifically of product, price, place, promotion, people and process, were outlined to enhance the energy wood market for three groups of beneficiaries: enterprises, population, and municipalities and institutions.