A Forest-to-Product Biomass Supply Chain in the Pacific Northwest, USA: A Multi-Product Approach

Berry, Michael; Sessions, John

doi:10.13031/aea.12384

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Additionally, we do not include company profit in order to determine break-even pricing, and highlight potential viability. Variability in supply chain costs was modeled using upper and lower bounds on cost inputs.Additional sources of uncertainty, not taken account within the model or analysis, include biomass (quantity and composition) on a per parcel basis, and market prices, but are discussed more fully by Berry and Sessions (2018b) and Sasantani and Eastin (2018). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Residuals are assumed to be sorted into loglike material (tops) and branches. These governing supply chain options are well studied (e.g., Anderson et al, 2012;Johnson et al, 2012;Bisson et al, 2016) with the model's specific supply chain discussed in Berry and Sessions (2018b).…”

Section: Logisticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As discussed in Berry and Sessions (2018b) and Sasantani and Eastin (2018) market values are difficult to estimate for immature product-market conditions and effective product costs largely depend on assumed technology utilized (highly variable) and conversion rates. These contributing factors make it difficult to judge profitability.…”

Section: Question #1: Are Transportable Conversion Facilities Profitamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Subregional Comparison for Forest- to-Product Biomass Supply Chains on the Pacific West Coast, USA

Berry¹,

Sessions²,

Zamora‐Cristales³

2018

Applied Engineering in Agriculture

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ABSTRACT. Transportable biomass conversion facilities producing biochar, briquettes, and torrefied wood are modeled and optimized for five different sub-regions within the Pacific Northwest. Subregional case studies in Quincy, California; Lakeview, Oregon; Oakridge, Oregon; Port Angeles, Washington; and Warm Springs, Oregon, are to fuel price sensitivity, torrefied wood was the most sensitive as its conversion process was most energy intensive (±12%-13%) and biochar least sensitive (±3-5%).Transportation accounted for 5% to 30% of the fuel price variation due to diesel prices depending on product and region. When including grid-connectivity, cost reductions were approximately 6%-7% for biochar, 27%-29% for briquettes and 33%-38% for torrefied wood. These findings indicate biochar as the most likely candidate for a transportable conversion system given its relatively low power consumption

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Logisticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Question #1: Are Transportable Conversion Facilities Profitamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Subregional Comparison for Forest- to-Product Biomass Supply Chains on the Pacific West Coast, USA

Berry¹,

Sessions²,

Zamora‐Cristales³

2018

Applied Engineering in Agriculture

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“…Berry and Sessions (2018a) develop a conceptual and mathematical strategic model to examine the forest-to-product supply chain for a transportable biomass conversion facility including economics of scale and the costs of facility relocation. Berry and Sessions (2018b) focus on the generation of a tactical-based landscape model to optimize biomass extraction, transportation, conversion and product production within a market system. Pathways include supply options at landings (burn, grind, chip, bale), centralized landings (grind/chip), biomass conversion facilities (biochar, briquettes, torrefied wood) and delivery to final market.…”

Section: Economics Of Forest-to-product Using Three Biomass Conversiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Waste To Wisdom: Utilizing Forest Residues for the Production of Bioenergy and Biobased Products

Han¹,

Jacobson²,

Bilek³

et al. 2018

Applied Engineering in Agriculture

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ABSTRACT. The Waste to Wisdom project was part of the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) and funded by the Department of Energy (DE-EE0006297) at an amount of $5.8 million. Our interdisciplinary research team, consisting of academics, business professionals, and land managers, worked together for about four years (September 2013 to December 2017 orest residues, including un-merchantable and small-diameter trees, tops, and limbs, produced during thinning and timber harvest operations, can be used to produce renewable bioenergy and bioproducts. The more efficient utilization of forest residues could also help offset the high costs of forest restoration activities, fire hazard treatments, post-harvest activities, and forest management in general. Forest residues have long been underutilized and treated as waste materials because of their high collection and transportation costs, as well as their low market value. While open burning is often employed to dispose of forest residues, this practice generally results in substantial negative economic and environmental impacts, including increased forest management costs and reduced local air quality.At present, the greatest obstacle to more effectively utilize forest residues is high transportation cost. The integration of biomass conversion technologies (BCTs) with new in-forest biomass operations could provide a cost-effective alternative to the long-distance transport of high moisture and low energy density forest residues. However, innovative new biomass feedstock technologies that produce high-quality feedstock materials from low-quality forest residues are needed to meet BCT feedstock specifications that include particle size and minimal contamination. BCTs can effectively convert comminuted forest residues into high-value fuels with desirable market characteristics (i.e., low moisture content and high energy density) and soil amendment products (i.e., biochar) in the woods, resulting in significantlyincreased transportation efficiencies. Using a process that is either in-woods or near-the-forests would also provide substantial environmental benefits by displacing fossil fuels, improving forest health, reducing catastrophic wildfires, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.The primary goal of the Waste to Wisdom project was to utilize waste forest residues to produce bioenergy and biobased products as a strategy to: 1) increase energy supply from renewable sources, 2) improve the environment, and 3) promote economic development in rural, forest-dependent communities in the western United States. Using forest residues as a feedstock for BCTs provides substantial social and economic benefits for rural, timber-dependent communities, including providing jobs for local workers and improving air quality through reduced emissions from open pile burns. In addition, converting forest residues into biochar is an effective strategy for carbon sequestration and improving the productivity of forest soils while reducing the incidence of catastrophic wildfires.

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“…Throughout the western United States, land managers are seeking cost‐effective solutions for treating low value woody biomass such as juniper. Producing biochar in conjunction with bioenergy has been identified as an approach for improving the economics of biomass removal (Berry & Sessions, 2018; Coleman et al., 2010). Several biochar end uses have been explored that could enhance biomass utilization frameworks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manipulating rangeland soil microclimate with juniper biochar for improved native seedling establishment

Phillips

Meyer

Hanson

et al. 2021

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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Encroachment of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) and invasive grasses have substantially degraded sagebrush-steppe ecosystems of the western United States. Here we evaluated whether juniper that is converted to biochar could be used in restoration seeding to improve establishment of native bunchgrasses. We hypothesized that juniper biochar could expand the window of favorable soil climate conditions for seedling establishment, either by darkening the soil surface and hastening warming in the early spring, or by enhancing soil water retention and slowing drying in the late spring. The influence of biochar application on soil albedo, temperature, and moisture were evaluated over 2 yr, along with impacts to soil fertility and establishment of bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] Á. Löve).Plots amended with biochar (14 Mg ha −1 ) were compared with plots with burn scars, where cut juniper had been piled and burned, and control plots that were areas located between burn scars where no biochar was applied. Biochar caused a small decrease in surface albedo, but no change in soil temperature or in situ soil moisture. Biochar had no impact on seedling establishment or growth over 2 yr compared with control plots. Seedling establishment was greatest in burn scars, possibly due to greater N availability. Biochar had minimal effects on soil physical and chemical characteristics, even when applied at a higher amendment rate than could be provisioned by the abundance of juniper biomass on the landscape. This trial showed juniper biochar caused no harm, but provided no clear benefits for native seedling establishment.

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A Forest-to-Product Biomass Supply Chain in the Pacific Northwest, USA: A Multi-Product Approach

Cited by 7 publications

References 27 publications

Subregional Comparison for Forest- to-Product Biomass Supply Chains on the Pacific West Coast, USA

Subregional Comparison for Forest- to-Product Biomass Supply Chains on the Pacific West Coast, USA

Waste To Wisdom: Utilizing Forest Residues for the Production of Bioenergy and Biobased Products

Manipulating rangeland soil microclimate with juniper biochar for improved native seedling establishment

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