Background: Replacement of fossil fuel based energy with biochar-based bioenergy production can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change and global warming. However, the production of biochar-based bioenergy depends on a sustainable supply of biomass. Although, Northwestern Ontario has a rich and sustainable supply of woody biomass, a comprehensive life cycle cost and economic assessment of biochar-based bioenergy production technology has not been done so far in the region. Methods: In this paper, we conducted a thorough life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) of biochar-based bioenergy production and its land application under four different scenarios: 1) biochar production with low feedstock availability; 2) biochar production with high feedstock availability; 3) biochar production with low feedstock availability and its land application; and 4) biochar production with high feedstock availability and its land application-using SimaPro®, EIOLCA® software and spreadsheet modeling. Based on the LCCA results, we further conducted an economic assessment for the break-even and viability of this technology over the project period. Results: It was found that the economic viability of biochar-based bioenergy production system within the life cycle analysis system boundary based on study assumptions is directly dependent on costs of pyrolysis, feedstock processing (drying, grinding and pelletization) and collection on site and the value of total carbon offset provided by the system. Sensitivity analysis of transportation distance and different values of C offset showed that the system is profitable in case of high biomass availability within 200 km and when the cost of carbon sequestration exceeds CAD $60 per tonne of equivalent carbon (CO 2 e). Conclusions: Biochar-based bioenergy system is economically viable when life cycle costs and environmental assumptions are accounted for. This study provides a medium scale slow-pyrolysis plant scenario and we recommend similar experiments with large-scale plants in order to implement the technology at industrial scale.
Vegetation management practices are an integral component of forest management. In this paper, we report results of stand-level benefit-cost analyses of 12 vegetation management treatments applied at six study sites in northern Ontario. Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS Ontario ) was used to project gross total and merchantable volumes to 70 years of age, and BUCK-2 was used to optimize potential products. Net present value (NPV), benefit-cost ratio (BCR), and internal rate of return (IRR) were calculated using 2009 constant dollars and variable real discount rates. Aerial herbicide treatments produced the highest NPV, BCR, and IRR. Internal rates of return of 4.32%, 2.90%, 2.82% and 2.50% for aerial herbicide, manual brush cutting, ground-applied herbicide, and brush cutting plus herbicide treatments, respectively, indicated that all of the vegetation management alternatives evaluated are economically viable.Key words: aerial herbicides, brush saw, forest economics, Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS Ontario ), ground herbicides, internal rate of return, net present value RÉSUMÉ Les pratiques de contrôle de la végétation font partie intégrante de l'aménagement forestier. Dans cet article, nous reportons des résultats obtenus par des analyses de coût-bénéfice effectuées au niveau du peuplement pour 12 traitements de contrôle de la végétation appliqués sur six sites d' études du nord de l'Ontario. Le Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVSOntario) a été utilisé pour projeter le volume total et le volume marchand à l'âge de 70 ans et le BUCK-2 a été utilisé pour optimiser les produits potentiellement obtenus. La valeur actuelle nette (VAN), le ratio coût-bénéfice (RCB) et le taux de rentabilité interne (TRI) ont été calculés en dollars constants de 2009 et selon des taux variables de profitabilité réelle. L' épandage aérien de phytocide a généré les VAN, RCB et TRI les plus importants. Les taux de rentabilité interne de 4,32 %, 2,90 %, 2,82 % et de 2,50 % respectivement pour l' épandage aérien, le débroussaillage manuel, l'application terrestre de phytocide et le débroussaillage manuel suivi de traitements de phytocide, ont démontré que toutes les alternatives de contrôle de la végétation évaluées sont économiquement viables.Mots clés : épandage aérien de phytocide, débroussailleuse, économie forestière, Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVSOntario), épandage terrestre de phytocide, taux de rentabilité interne, valeur actuelle nette
Intensive forest management for wood production requires that we identify our most productive forest lands as well as the most productive and most commercially valuable tree species that should be managed on these lands. The Thunder Bay Spacing Trial established in 1950 provides growth and yield comparisons on a productive site for red pine, white spruce, and black spruce. Our analysis based on six remeasurements from 1983 to 2007 show that red pine has produced more than twice the volume of white spruce and about three times the volume of black spruce. The greater volume for red pine in comparison to the spruces is attributed to taller trees, larger average diameters and more basal area.
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