Abstract

Because of the harmful effect on the environment and the uncertainty in the future offer of the conventional source of energy, the lignocellulosic biomass is being considered as the most promising alternatives of solution. The evidence shows that an important way to get biomass turned into biofuels will be through establishing plantations with high growth rates and short rotation periods; plantations specially conceived for that. This article describes characteristics and possibilities of using hybrid poplars on energetic plantation models, which has an enormous potential to be developed in Chile.