Abstract
Internationally forest biomass is considered to be a valuable renewable energy feedstock. However, utilization of forest harvesting residues is challenging because they are highly varied, generally of low quality and usually widely distributed across timber harvesting sites. Factors related to the collection, processing and transport impose constraints on the economic viability of residue utilization operations and impact their supply from dispersed feedstock locations. To optimize decision-making about suitable locations for biomass energy plants intending to use forest residues, it is essential to factor in these supply chain considerations. This study conducted in Tasmania, Australia presents an investigation into the integration of Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) and Geographical Information systems (GIS) to identify optimal locations for prospective biomass power plants. The amount of forest harvesting biomass residues was estimated based on a non-industrial private native resource model in Tasmania (NIPNF). The integration of MCA and a GIS model, including a supply chain cost analysis, allowed the identification and analysis of optimal candidate locations that balanced economic, environmental, and social criteria within the biomass supply. The study results confirm that resource availability, land use and supply chain cost data can be integrated and mapped using GIS to facilitate the determination of different sustainable criteria weightings, and to ultimately generate optimal candidate locations for biomass energy plants. It is anticipated that this paper will make a contribution to current scientific knowledge by presenting innovative approaches for the sustainable utilization of forest harvest residues as a resource for the generation of bioenergy in Tasmania.
Highlights
As a response to increased fuel cost and environmental concerns, the use of renewable energy source is being highly considered as an alternative to fossil fuel [1]
This study aims to investigate the optimal location of prospective biomass power plants in Tasmania, Australia using forest harvesting residue estimation
Available land areas were investigated using a Integrated Geographical Information systems (GIS) and the multicriteria assessment method Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were applied to assign a weight to each multicriteria assessment method
Summary
As a response to increased fuel cost and environmental concerns, the use of renewable energy source is being highly considered as an alternative to fossil fuel [1]. Forest biomass is considered one of the main renewable energy sources, and its utilization as an energy source has increased rapidly in the last decades [2]. In the case of the United States, forest residues are becoming valuable materials such as biomass energy. Forests 2018, 9, 585 feedstocks and engineered wood products [4]. Wood residues from commercial timber harvesting have been utilized to make various timber products for decades. Most particle boards in the United States are made from timber processing residues, and about one-third of all pallets produced annually are made from recycled wood [5]
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