Pellets from mixtures of short rotation coppice with forest-derived biomass: Production costs and energy intensity

Abstract

The demand for feedstock for pellet production is growing, with a consequent increase in the cost of their purchase and the cost of production. The objective of this study was to determine the cost and energy intensity of pellet production from forest biomass (Scots pine, silver birch) and short rotation coppice – SRC (black locust, poplar and willow) and their mixtures. The lowest cost (339.7 € Mg−1) and energy input (1448 kWh Mg−1) for pellet production were determined for Scots pine. The cost of pellet production from poplar and willow was higher by 5–6% compared with Scots pine pellet. The energy input for pellet production from willow, black locust and poplar was higher by 48.1%, 50.4% and 53.2%, respectively. The feedstock purchase cost (50.3–57.8%) and energy input for drying them (74.6–82.6%) accounted for the largest portion. Increasing the share of SRC biomass from 25% through 50%–75% relative to Scots pine and silver birch biomass resulted in a cost and energy intensity increase and decrease in the energy efficiency of pellet production. Three pellet types: produced from Scots pine and those with an addition of 25% of willow or poplar made up one cluster.