vedforskning

Vedforskning is the field that studies wood as a natural material and as a source of energy. It encompasses the properties of different wood species, wood anatomy, growth and harvesting, as well as processes that convert wood into usable products and energy. The discipline intersects forestry, materials science, chemical engineering, and environmental assessment.

Key topics include the anatomical and mechanical properties of wood (density, strength, moisture), durability and preservation, drying and processing techniques, wood modification and products (construction timbers, furniture, paper, composites). In energy contexts, vedforskning covers biomass production, conversion technologies (combustion, gasification, pyrolysis), and fuel quality for stoves and power plants.

Methods used include laboratory testing, field measurements, wood anatomy analysis, computer modeling, and life-cycle assessment. Data sources include forest inventories, wood product testing standards, and energy statistics. Research often addresses quality control, performance under environmental conditions, and optimization of processing to reduce waste.

Environmental and sustainability considerations are central, including the carbon balance of wood use, forest management, certification schemes, and policy implications to promote renewable energy and sustainable construction. Economic and social dimensions, such as supply chains, markets for wood products, and the adoption of wood-based bioenergy, are also part of vedforskning.

Historically developed from forestry and wood science, the field has expanded with concerns about climate change and renewable energy, leading to interdisciplinary approaches that integrate forestry science, material engineering, and environmental assessment.