SHORT-ROTATION WOODEN BIOMASS PRODUCTION: BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ANDALUSIA (SOUTHERN SPAIN)

Andalusia, due to its size and climate conditions, is the Spanish Autonomous Community with the most potential for generating energy from biomass. The use of biomass from short-rotation woody crops that contribute to energy supply seems to be more sustainable environmentally and appears as an opportunity to develop a sector of enormous potential in many rural areas. However, this is still a relatively new industry in the region, whose development is conditioned by many limitations and barriers. In context, a PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) analysis of Short-rotation woody crops (SRP) sector was carried out, based on expert knowledge, in order to identify and evaluate the main factors that are conditioning the production and use of biomass from SRP in Andalusia (S Spain).