Comparison of Productivity and Cost between Two Integrated Harvesting Systems in South Korea

Abstract

Interest in the production of renewable energy using forest biomass is increasing in South Korea, and improved knowledge on operations logistics to lower biomass harvesting costs is needed. This study aimed to build a low-cost forest-biomass harvesting system by analyzing the costs of two integrated (cut-to-length and whole-tree) harvesting systems for logs and logging residues. Two integrated harvesting systems were carried out in the clear-cut mixed forest on a steep slope. Compared to the cut-to-length system that separately extracts logs and logging residues in a forest, the cable whole-tree harvesting system can save $8.8/green weight ton (Gwt) because it requires no additional yarding operation cost of logging residues. Moreover, a breakeven analysis shows that the required machine utilization rates that favor whole-tree harvesting systems over cut-to-length harvesting were more than 70% for cable harvesting systems. The introduction of the whole-tree harvesting system is, therefore, required to produce forest biomass at a low cost. In the future, studies on forest-biomass processing and transportation systems will be needed to provide a biomass feedstock supply cost from stump to biomass power plant.

Relative Environmental, Economic, and Energy Performance Indicators of Fuel Compositions with Biomass

“…The economic criteria, including cost of components and economic indicators of preparation, storage, and combustion, were better for slurries, too. The cost of the slurries under study was derived from the market prices of the components [59][60][61]. Using coal processing waste to produce slurries decreases the fuel cost up to sevenfold.…”

Assessment of Physical Workload of Choker Setter in Tree-length Extraction Operation by Cable Yarder

“…(19) Several previous studies have determined the performance of cable yarders to expand and improve the efficiency of wood production and supply chains in South Korea. (6,20,21) However, to our knowledge, none of the previous studies explicitly determined the physical workload of choker setters. Therefore, in this study we aimed to (1) determine HR and VO 2max variability for choker setters and the specific work process that incurs the highest workload, and (2) evaluate the total physical workload during cable yarding operations using a HAM300 tower yarder during the tree-length harvesting method.…”