Technologies for delivering forest biomass: Challenges and implications
- USDA Forest Service, Seattle, WA (United States)
Technological developments in biomass harvesting peaked in the early mid-seventies. Harvest operations in natural stands often included the removal of biomass material with conventional products like pulpwood and sawlogs. Since that time, forest management philosophies have changed dramatically, emphasizing partial harvests and thinnings over clearcut harvests. This change has, in turn, affected the type of equipment used for harvesting. The emphasis on leaving slash and debris on site, rather than remove it as a potential biomass product, has further affected the ability to effectively harvest biomass material from our forests. Newly developed logging systems, called cut-to-length systems, were introduced from Scandinavia in the mid-eighties and produced a minor revolution in our forests. The design of these systems emphasized stand and site protection over high production and low costs. Biomass production has diminished as a priority of harvesting system design to a point where the cost of producing a ton of biomass may well exceed its market value. Harvest systems studies summarized in this report suggest that these newer systems do protect the forest environment, but at a cost to biomass and conventional production. Overall, the cost to produce conventional sawlogs and pulpwood may have increased by 40 to 50 percent using these newer systems. Biomass, typically produced at a smaller profit margin than conventional material, may have increased in cost even more than 50 percent. Even conventional systems cost 20 to 30 percent more to operate in the partial harvests commonly prescribed on our forests. In contrast, the value of biomass has not increased at the same rate as conventional products. Competing energy sources have affected the demand for energy wood and chips that were marketed only as fuel in the past, are now being sought for engineered wood products at a higher price. Current trends do not favor biomass production in many areas of North America.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 115229
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-200-8098; CONF-9508104-; ON: DE95009230; TRN: 95:006736-0008
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. meeting on biomass of the Americas, Portland, OR (United States), 21-24 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]; Related Information: Is Part Of Second biomass conference of the Americas: Energy, environment, agriculture, and industry. Proceedings; PB: 1741 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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