Economic and energy value of black locust

The paper assesses the economic and energy usage of black locust tree biomass for fuel purposes with reference to oak, hornbeam, beech, birch, poplar and willow wood as a competing timber species on the biomass market. It has been shown that the average price of black locust timber in the forest inspectorates considered in the survey is comparable with other hardwood species and PLN 40 more expensive (for one cubical meter) than poplar and willow timber. It has also been proved that energy unit price contained in black locust timber is slightly lower than in willow timber and 5 to 20 per cent lower than in other wood species. The research results allow to conclude that black locust timber produces the cheapest energy unit