In this study, we provide potential proportions of raw materials for developing renewable energy
using woody residues from Taiwan’s sawmill industry. We investigated proportions of woody
residues and current treatments that generated them during production processes in Taiwan’s sawmills.
In total, 134 sawmills were investigated from among 162 sawmills that are still operating
in Taiwan. Results showed that the sawmill industry in Taiwan produces an average of a 21.6%
woody residue ratio from production processes. About 60% of sawmills have woody residue ratios
of 11%~25%. The woody residue ratio of sawmills that only use logs in the production process was
24.5%, which was higher than the ratio of 17.3% of sawmills that also use other woody materials.
In addition, according to the main product type of each sawmill, the proportion of woody residues
in the production of construction timber was up to 28.7%. We also analyzed proportions of current
treatments of woody residues, and found that about 47.5% of woody residues from sawmills have
potential to be used for renewable energy in the future.