Feb 04, 2009. /Lesprom.com/. Because of increasing energy prices the value of Swedish forest-based biofuels has increased circa 7 % annually in the last years, The Nordic Forest Ownersʹ Association said. At present the numerous heating and district-heating power plants now being built in the country are the most important consumers of biofuels. The state owned company Sveaskog, one of the major suppliers, will supply 1.8 million terawatt-hours (TWh) of biofuels this year. That is the equivalent of about 900 thousand cubic metres of wood. Mr Roger Johansson in Sveaskog says that the objective is to double this volume to 4 TWh in the following three years. In respect of forestry supplied volumes are calculated in cubic metres, but supplies to the energy sector are calculated in energy content. Pulp mills are the traditional consumers of forest-based fuels, which they burn in their boilers. But at present the numerous heating and district-heating power plants now being built in the country are the most important consumers. There is naturally most demand in densely populated areas, such as the Mälardalen region and in Southern Sweden. Recently Sveaskog concluded a record size contract of three years for supplying biofuels to the company Fortum. Sveaskog is to supply biofuels to an annual value of 56-60 million SEK (circa Euro 5.5-6 million) to the district-heating power plant in Brista outside Stockholm. In order to fulfil its supply commitments Sveaskog will be creative and apply new methods for harvesting wood for biofuels. In addition to harvesting residues, such as branches, crowns and roots, also other raw materials will be used. Mr Roger Johansson says that the company will for example clear young forests and buy felling rights around fields and pastures, which are about to become overgrown. Until now such forests have been considered worthless, but they are valuable for the growing biofuel industry.