Forest Biomass Utilization Research Articles

Integration of Incinerator Plants and Utilization of Forest Biomass on the Basis of FIT

SUMMARYFeed‐in tariff (FIT) has been enforced in order to promote the utilization of renewable energy since 2012 in Japan. In consideration of FIT, we propose an integration plan for incinerator plants (IPs) with highly efficient power generation for the whole area of a prefecture. The plan includes disposal of forest biomass using the reserve capacity of IPs. The model prefecture's population is set to 1,200,000 and the proportion of the forested area is set to 70% of the model area based on data for northeastern Japan. The present 16 IPs are integrated into three new IPs. A relay transportation (RT) facility for waste is located at a decommissioned IP, and the waste from the area is transported to the new IP. In order to calculate the RT costs, an approximation formula for the RT distance is estimated via the IPs integration study. The plan will realize about 37% cost reduction and 1.8‐fold CO2 reduction including RT as compared to the plan to update the current IP situation. Forest biomass of 56,500 tons per year, which is about 43% of available forest biomass volume in the model prefecture, can be disposed of at new IPs. On the other hand, enough profit is not expected from the dedicated biomass power generation plant as a result of wood chip processing fees. The plan will help to develop local forestry.

Bioenergy Potential and Utilization Costs for the Supply of Forest Woody Biomass for Energetic Use at a Regional Scale in Mexico

While considering constraints in regard to sustainability, this paper reviews the development of a methodology to assess the introduction of bioenergy supply chains in Mexico based on forest woody biomass. Three research modules include analyses of forest biomass utilization residues that originated from: (1) harvesting activities, (2) non-extracted stands and (3) sawmills. A regional case study focusing on tree species of commercial importance (pine, oak and fir) in the 10 provinces with the highest timber production located in the north and central-south part of the country, is analyzed. After applying the methodology, the theoretical potential of available woody biomass for energetic use amounts to 6,357,482 m3. When applying the sustainability constraints, the technically feasible supply of forest woody biomass for energetic use sums up to 5,798,722 m3, which relate to a technical energy potential of 45.96 PJ for 2013. Moreover, a biomass energy flow chart showing energy values for each analyzed source and species is presented. Monte Carlo simulations were carried out for each cost involved in utilizing the resulting available woody biomass for energetic use. In the absence of national studies which include forest operations and bioenergy transformation to calculate the sustainable energy potential, the developed methodology adds innovation for assessing woody biomass availability.

Estimating net climate impacts of timber production and utilization in fossil fuel intensive material and energy substitution

We utilized an ecosystem model and life cycle assessment tool for studying carbon flows between the ecosystem, technosystem, and atmosphere for scenarios utilizing forest biomass (biosystem) against fossil fuel intensive materials (fossil system). The net climate impacts were studied for a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand over two consecutive rotation periods (2 × 80 years) in the boreal conditions in central Finland (62°N, 29°E). The effects of alternative forest management on the carbon dynamics in the biosystem were studied in comparison with the fossil system by using an unmanaged and baseline thinning regime. The results showed that the biosystem produced carbon benefits compared with the similar system with the use of fossil fuel intensive materials and energy. The unmanaged stand stored the highest amount of carbon and retained carbon the longest when solely the ecosystem was considered. Studying the ecosystem and the technosystem together, the biosystem was found effective in storing and increasing the residence of carbon with or without changing the life span of biomass-based products. We found that the increase of the life span of biomass-based products could reduce emissions up to 0.28 t CO2·ha−1·year−1 depending on the management regimes over the study period. The increased stocking regimes could increase negative net climate impact by 47% over the study period compared with the use of baseline thinning in the biosystem. The proper climate mitigation strategies should consider the benefits from forest management and forest biomass in storing carbon into both the ecosystem and technosystem.

Determination of elements removal in different harvesting scenarios of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands

ABSTRACTIncreasing demand for renewable energy and limiting CO2 emissions have stimulated much interest in wood-based biofuels. Unfortunately, expanding the utilization of forest biomass may cause nutrient depletion in forested environments. This study investigates the element content from various parts of the tree. Comparisons were made between different harvesting scenarios and their impact on the amount of nutrients removed from the forest environment. The harvesting scenarios were: stem-only harvesting (SOH), branch and stem harvesting (BSH), and two variants of whole-tree harvesting (WTH). The elements taken into account were: carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), sulphur (S), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb). To make the results comparable, the same amount of removed biomass was taken into calculation. The differences between harvesting scenarios were significant. The amounts of removed elements formed similar pattern: the lowest level was found in SOH, average in BSH, and highest in both variants of WTH. This confirms that the application of WTH is connected with increased risk of nutrient depletion, even when the volume of harvest would be equal to other variants.

広島修道大学森林バイオマス研究会編『森林バイオマス活用の地域開発-鍵を握る産業クラスター-』（書評）

広島修道大学森林バイオマス研究会編『森林バイオマス活用の地域開発-鍵を握る産業クラスター-』（書評）

森林バイオマスエネルギー"地産地消社会システム"構築への取組み : 地方の現場から

森林バイオマスエネルギー"地産地消社会システム"構築への取組み : 地方の現場から

Net climate impacts and economic profitability of forest biomass production and utilization in fossil fuel and fossil-based material substitution under alternative forest management

We studied net climate impacts and economic profitability of the production and utilization of biomass from a Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) stand under alternative forest management in Finnish boreal conditions over 60–100-year rotations. The work employed ecosystem model simulations and a life cycle assessment tool as integrated. The net climate impact of biomass referred to the difference in annual net CO2 exchange between the biosystem and fossil system. Sawn wood, pulp, energy biomass and processing waste substituted for concrete/steel, plastic and coal/oil. In the biosystem, ‘business as usual’ (baseline) and alternative management (maintaining 10–30% higher or lower stocking than the baseline, and/or nitrogen fertilization, and harvesting intensity) were used. The fossil system considered baseline and unthinning as reference management and also net ecosystem CO2 exchange as excluded. We found that using timber and energy biomass generated 32–40% higher net climate impacts compared to using only timber. Generally, harvesting of energy biomass increased the economic profitability but the net climate impacts of biomass were highest over 80–100-year rotations. Maintaining higher stocking in thinning and fertilization generally enhanced net climate impacts, but maintaining up to 20% higher stocking and both energy biomass and timber production increased both net climate impacts and economic profitability. The baseline as a reference produced higher climate benefits compared to unthinning regime. The increased production and use of sawn wood with energy biomass appeared the best option for long-term mitigation, since they enhanced both net climate impacts compared to the fossil system and economic returns.

Examining the Social Acceptability of Forest Biomass Harvesting and Utilization from Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration: A Case Study from Western Colorado, USA

Examining the Social Acceptability of Forest Biomass Harvesting and Utilization from Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration: A Case Study from Western Colorado, USA

Comparing Forest Biomass Utilization Systems from the Perspectives of CO2 Emission Reduction and Effects on Regional Economy: Thermal Utilization and Power Generation Using Unused Materials

Comparing Forest Biomass Utilization Systems from the Perspectives of CO₂ Emission Reduction and Effects on Regional Economy: Thermal Utilization and Power Generation Using Unused Materials

Efficacy and profitability of a mobile grinder system for biomass production in Korea

ABSTRACTForest biomass utilization is increasing in Korea, but on-site biomass operations have not been studied much. This study investigates the efficacy and profitability of a mobile grinder system that consists of a mobile tub-grinder, a grapple excavator, and a three-man crew. A time study was carried out to measure production time and to calculate the productivity of the system. The mobile grinder system ran 3 work cycles a day for total of 347.5 minutes. It was only productive for less than half of the 8 working hours a day (237.4 minutes, utilization rate of 49.4%). We estimated that the system produced 246.2 m3/day, which was 26% lower than the daily capacity reported by the grinder operators. This study found the system could make utilizing forest biomass profitable, although this depended on limited market information. The profitability of the system can be improved by increasing work cycles a day and decreasing organizational delays by better operation management. More research is needed to increase the on-site productivity of the system, and incorporate it and the actual price of wood chips to further assess the profitability of the system. The study results can be used as a justification for the grinder system, encouraging forest managers to adapt this relatively new operation.

Bioenergy for District Bioheating System (DBS) from eucalyptus residues in a European coal-producing region

Since forest biomass can substitute for CO2-emitting fossil fuels in the energy sector, forest management can greatly affect the global carbon cycle. Eucalyptus globulus has adapted very well in the coal region of the Principality of Asturias (Northwestern Spain) and has become highly regarded as a valuable raw material for the pulp and paper industry. In the present work, the Eucalyptus globulus is studied as a key natural energy source in order to improve existing methods and develop new ways of optimizing the evaluation and use of both forest biomass and woody residue in energy systems, in accordance with sustainable forestry industry safety and environmental requirements. The feasibility of utilizing forest biomass instead of natural gas in a District Bioheating System (DBS) has been examined based on an analysis of its economical and environmental impacts.

Climate Change Mitigation Challenge for Wood Utilization—The Case of Finland

The urgent need to mitigate climate change invokes both opportunities and challenges for forest biomass utilization. Fossil fuels can be substituted by using wood products in place of alternative materials and energy, but wood harvesting reduces forest carbon sink and processing of wood products requires material and energy inputs. We assessed the extended life cycle carbon emissions considering substitution impacts for various wood utilization scenarios over 100 years from 2010 onward for Finland. The scenarios were based on various but constant wood utilization structures reflecting current and anticipated mix of wood utilization activities. We applied stochastic simulation to deal with the uncertainty in a number of input variables required. According to our analysis, the wood utilization decrease net carbon emissions with a probability lower than 40% for each of the studied scenarios. Furthermore, large emission reductions were exceptionally unlikely. The uncertainty of the results were influenced clearly the most by the reduction in the forest carbon sink. There is a significant trade-off between avoiding emissions through fossil fuel substitution and reduction in forest carbon sink due to wood harvesting. This creates a major challenge for forest management practices and wood utilization activities in responding to ambitious climate change mitigation targets.

The arthropod community of boreal Norway spruce forests responds variably to stump harvesting

Forest fuel harvesting increases the need to collect not just logging residues but also tree stumps from harvested stands. This biomass removal has raised concern over forest biodiversity. Here, the effects of stump harvesting on spiders, ants, harvestmen, ground beetles and epiedaphic springtails occupying boreal Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest floor were studied two and five years after harvesting by comparing pitfall trap samples from clear-cut sites with and without subsequent stump harvesting and from unharvested mature forests in central Finland. At harvested sites, traps were placed both on intact and exposed mineral soil surface. Open-habitat and generalist ground beetles benefitted from the stump harvesting, but generally the numbers of arthropods between stump harvesting treatments and different aged clear-cuts were rather similar. The intact forest floor hosted more ants, springtails and harvestmen than did the exposed mineral soil. Moreover, the community structure of spiders, ground beetles and springtails was affected by stump harvesting, forest-floor quality (intact or exposed), and time elapsed since harvesting. Based on these results we recommend minimizing the exposure of mineral soil during management practices. However, more long-term studies are required to document the development of fauna in the harvested areas and the ecosystem-level impacts of utilization of forest biomass for energy.

MODELOS PREDICTIVOS DE BIOMASA AÉREA DE<i> Eucalyptus grandis</i> PARA EL NORESTE DE ARGENTINA

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509819611Diferentes intereses industriales, energéticos y ambientales han motivado el análisis de las distintas posibilidades de aprovechamiento de la biomasa forestal, este tema está adquiriendo un creciente protagonismo, por lo que la cuantificación de la biomasa aérea de estos sistemas forestales constituye un primer paso fundamental e ineludible. El objetivo de este trabajo fue desarrollar modelos que permitan estimar la biomasa de los diferentes compartimentos aéreos de Eucalyptus grandis. Para ello se emplearon datos de 41 árboles provenientes de rodales de diferentes edades, entre 4 y 32 años, ubicados en la región NE de Argentina. Se tomaron 23 individuos ubicados en la Zona Norte y Alta de Misiones (zona 1) y 18 en el Sur de Misiones y NE de Corrientes (zona 2). Se determinó la biomasa de hojas, ramas menores a 5 cm, ramas mayores a 5 cm, total de ramas, fuste y biomasa total del árbol. Para el ajuste de modelos se tomaron diversas variables independientes, el diámetro a la altura de pecho (dap), la altura total del árbol (h), el producto (dap2*h) y la variable “dummy” (zona). Para el caso de la biomasa de ramas y de hojas, debido a que no se lograron resultados satisfactorios con el empleo de estas variables, se examinaron modelos que adicionaban índice de sitio, factor de espaciamiento, diámetro en la base de la copa verde (dbcv), altura hasta la base de la copa verde (hbcv), longitud de copa verde (lcv), el área transversal de albura en la base de copa verde (g Alb bcv) y diferentes combinaciones de estas variables. Los modelos fueron seleccionados en base al coeficiente de determinación y el error cuadrático medio. Para la biomasa de ramas menores a 5 cm, ramas mayores a 5 cm, total de ramas, fuste y total, los mejores modelos fueron los que incorporaron como variables regresoras, el diámetro a la altura de pecho, la altura total del árbol y la variable “dummy” (zona). Para la biomasa de hojas, las variables, edad, área basal y número de árboles por hectárea permitieron mejorar la estimación. Los coeficientes de determinación para los modelos de biomasa total y de fuste fueron de 0,99, para el total de ramas fue de 0,83, para ramas menores a 5 cm 0,69, para ramas mayores de 5 cm 0,53 y 0,65 para hojas. Se recomienda incrementar la base de datos a los efectos de intentar mejorar las predicciones de biomasa de hojas y ramas.

An Analysis of the Operational Productivity and Cost for the Utilization of Forest-biomass(II)

This study was analyzed the operational cost of logging and chipping operations in order to develop the efficient logging operation system for the utilization of forest-biomass. Analysis of the operational cost of logging operation systems, the operation system D which include chain saw, tower-yarder, mini-forwarder and truck was calculated the lowest cost to be . In the utilization of forest-biomass, the operation system E which include chipping by mini-chipper at the site, forwarding of chips by mini-forwarder, transportation of chips by truck was estimated to be 90,770 Won/Ton. Thus, These results are determined as an effective operating system for logging operation and the utilization of forest-biomass.

Net climate impacts of forest biomass production and utilization in managed boreal forests

AbstractIn this work, we studied the potentials offered by managed boreal forests and forestry to mitigate the climate change using forest‐based materials and energy in substituting fossil‐based materials (concrete and plastic) and energy (coal and oil). For this purpose, we calculated the net climate impacts (radiative forcing) of forest biomass production and utilization in the managed Finnish boreal forests (60°–70°N) over a 90‐year period based on integrated use forest ecosystem model simulations (on carbon sequestration and biomass production of forests) and life‐cycle assessment (LCA) tool. When studying the effects of management on the radiative forcing in a system integrating the carbon sink/sources dynamics in both biosystem and technosystem, the current forest management (baseline management) was used a reference management. Our results showed that the use of forest‐based materials and energy in substituting fossil‐based materials and energy would provide an effective option for mitigating climate change. The negative climate impacts could be further decreased by maintaining forest stocking higher over the rotation compared to the baseline management and by harvesting stumps and coarse roots in addition to logging residues in the final felling. However, the climate impacts varied substantially over time depending on the prevailing forest structure and biomass assortment (timber, energy biomass) used in substitution.

Potential of forest biomass production and utilization for mitigation of climate change in boreal conditions

The aim of this work was to study the potential of forest biomass production and utilization for mitigating climate change in boreal conditions, based on integrated use of forest ecosystem model (SIMA) simulations and life cycle assessment (LCA). More specifically, it was studied how forest management (e.g. thinning regime, nitrogen fertilization, rotation length), harvesting intensity (timber, logging residues, stumps and coarse roots in the final felling) and gradually changing climate affect in Finnish conditions forest biomass production (timber and energy biomass) (Papers I, III, IV), carbon neutrality (Paper I) and net climate impacts of forest biomass production and utilization in substituting fossilintensive materials and fuels (Paper III, IV). Furthermore, it was studied the need to adapt the cultivation of the main Finnish tree species under the gradually changing climate (Paper II). This work showed that by modifying the business-as-usual (baseline) management and by increasing the harvesting intensity, we may increase simultaneously forest biomass production, carbon sequestration and stocks of forests, and climate benefits of forest biomass production and utilization. This could be done by maintaining higher stocking over a rotation (of 60 to 80 years) compared to the baseline management and using nitrogen fertilization, and harvesting in addition to timber, also logging residues, stumps and coarse roots for energy in the final felling. However, some trade-offs exist between the economic profitability of forest biomass production and climate impacts of forest biomass production and utilization. The impacts will also vary over time depending on the prevailing environmental conditions, forest structure and forest biomass assortments used in substitution. To conclude, gradual adaptation of forest management and utilization is needed in the future, taking into account the prevailing environmental conditions (climate, site) and uncertainties related to the climate change, to fully utilize the positive effects of climate change and reduce the negative ones.

FITを考慮した清掃工場の統合と林産バイオマスの活用

FITを考慮した清掃工場の統合と林産バイオマスの活用

Le biomasse come opportunità per il territorio: analisi tecnico-economica per la Regione Basilicata

In Basilicata region there is a considerable amount of unused wood as well as the capacity to use it as feedstock for the production of bioenergy. Thus, the supply of renewable energy could be increased through greater utilization of forest biomass. However, for a better planning of the production and processing chain, the energy and forestry sectors require better estimates of the availability of unused roundwood and residues. The aim of the research was the development of a model for the spatial evaluation of biomass quantities obtainable from forestland. The results obtained point out a) significant amounts of biomass distributed on most of the territory; b) good opportunities related to white certificate trading and c) potential of business creation, entrepreneurship and local employment.

Predictions on Availability and Possibilities of the use of Wood for Energy Purposes in Europe and in Poland

Abstract The paper presents the results of studies concerning the availability and possibilities of the use of wood for energy purposes in Europe and in Poland. It describes in detail the current use of wood for energy production purposes, as well as predictions on volume, composition, and sources of energy wood. It also presents the results concerning potential impact of energy wood harvesting on wood industries. The paper concludes that the question of utilization of forest biomass for large-scale energy generation is very complex and has far-reaching consequences for environment, society and economy. So as to be effective, wood resources management should give a priority to wood-based production of the greatest added value, and energy generation should be a closing-down stage in the wood value chain