An economic analysis of bio-energy options using thinnings from overstocked forests

Polagye, Brian; Hodgson, Kevin T.; Malte, Philip C.

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2006.02.005

Cited by 97 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Another relevant study is that of Polagye et al (2007). They are focused on the residual materials from logging and thinning efforts in Washington State.…”

Section: Economic Analysis Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

An economic analysis of mobile pyrolysis for northern New Mexico forests.

Brady¹,

Brown²,

Mowry³

et al. 2011

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In the interest of providing an economically sensible use for the copious small-diameter wood in Northern New Mexico, an economic study is performed focused on mobile pyrolysis. Mobile pyrolysis was selected for the study because transportation costs limit the viability of a dedicated pyrolysis plant, and the relative simplicity of pyrolysis compared to other technology solutions lends itself to mobile reactor design. A bench-scale pyrolysis system was used to study the wood pyrolysis process and to obtain performance data that was otherwise unavailable under conditions theorized to be optimal given the regional problem.Pyrolysis can convert wood to three main products: fixed gases, liquid pyrolysis oil and char. The fixed gases are useful as low-quality fuel, and may have sufficient chemical energy to power a mobile system, eliminating the need for an external power source. The majority of the energy content of the pyrolysis gas is associated with carbon monoxide, followed by light hydrocarbons. The liquids are well characterized in the historical literature, and have slightly lower heating values comparable to the feedstock. They consist of water and a mix of hundreds of hydrocarbons, and are acidic. They are also unstable, increasing in viscosity with time stored. Up to 60%ii of the biomass in bench-scale testing was converted to liquids. Lower (~550ºC) furnace temperatures are preferred because of the decreased propensity for deposits and the high liquid yields.A mobile pyrolysis system would be designed with low maintenance requirements, should be able to access wilderness areas, and should not require more than one or two people to operate the system. The technoeconomic analysis assesses fixed and variable costs. It suggests that the economy of scale is an important factor, as higher throughput directly leads to improved system economic viability. Labor and capital equipment are the driving factors in the viability of the system. The break-even selling price for the baseline assumption is about $11/GJ, however it may be possible to reduce this value by 20-30% depending on other factors e valuated in the non-baseline scenarios. Assuming a value for the char co-product improves the analysis.Significantly lower break-even costs are possible in an international setting, as labor is the dominant production cost.iii

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“…Another relevant study is that of Polagye et al (2007). They are focused on the residual materials from logging and thinning efforts in Washington State.…”

Section: Economic Analysis Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

An economic analysis of mobile pyrolysis for northern New Mexico forests.

Brady¹,

Brown²,

Mowry³

et al. 2011

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“…Wildfires burned a record 9.7 million acres of U.S. forests and wildlands in 2006, compared with an annual average of 6.6 million acres during 1999-2006. The upward trend is due in part to forests that are heavily overstocked with small-diameter trees and brush, substantially increasing the risks of catastrophic wildfires (8).…”

Section: Wildland Firesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Forests, Renewable Energy, and the Environment

Nechodom

Schuetzle²,

Ganz³

et al. 2008

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Each of these has unique options and constraints that are context-and placedependent (Hitchner et al 2014). Furthermore, the feasibility of new energy development does not occur in a vacuum, but is embedded in historical and contemporary socio-cultural, political, economic, and environmental factors (e.g., Polagye et al 2007, Hoekman 2009, West et al 2010, Jones et al 2013, Strauss and Reeser 2013, Caputo et al 2016). These factors, in turn, can enable or constrain WBB development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood-based bioenergy in western Montana: the importance of understanding path dependence and local context for resilience

Beeton¹,

Galvin²

2017

E&S

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ABSTRACT. The use of biomass for wood-based bioenergy (WBB) has been argued as a mechanism to mitigate the impacts of climate change, reduce vulnerability to disturbance events such as fires, and to enhance rural socioeconomic development. Yet, WBB development is characterized by a multitude of feedstock sources, bioenergy pathways, scales, and end uses, the feasibility of which is contingent upon place-based and context-specific social and environmental factors. We present an exploratory case study that draws on key informant interviews among a cohort of diverse stakeholders in rural western Montana forest communities, which was informed by a social-ecological systems framework and resilience thinking from a social science lens. The purpose of this paper is the following: (a) to document the ways in which key informants define the opportunities and constraints associated with WBB in local contexts; and (b) to understand how, and under what contexts, WBB can contribute to forest and community resilience under change. Interviews were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach, and supplemented by document analysis. Results illustrate the ways in which historical contingencies (i.e., path dependence), individual and group values, and social context can affect the capacity to implement WBB projects. Results also help identify multiple perspectives and trade-offs, which can provide a step toward identifying the most desirable and plausible options for WBB development. As such, these lessons can be used as a starting point to help determine WBB development pathways that contribute to the social and ecological resilience of local places and people under change.

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An economic analysis of bio-energy options using thinnings from overstocked forests

Cited by 97 publications

References 12 publications

An economic analysis of mobile pyrolysis for northern New Mexico forests.

An economic analysis of mobile pyrolysis for northern New Mexico forests.

Sustainable Forests, Renewable Energy, and the Environment

Wood-based bioenergy in western Montana: the importance of understanding path dependence and local context for resilience

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