Opportunities, barriers, and strategies for forest bioenergy and bio-based product development in the Southern United States

Mayfield, Chyrel A.; Foster, C. Darwin; Smith, C. T.; Gan, Jianbang; Fox, Susan

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.06.021

Cited by 71 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The use of biomass also serves as the economic base for rural and forestry-based communities, in addition to other forestry-related activities [64]. It appears that the use of biomass feedstocks for energy purposes under the current economic circumstances may be unprofitable unless subsidies or other co-benefits from biomass use are valued.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renewable Energy from Forest Residues—How Greenhouse Gas Emission Offsets Can Make Fossil Fuel Substitution More Attractive

Yemshanov

McKenney

Hope

et al. 2018

Forests

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Burning forest biomass from renewable sources has been suggested as a viable strategy to help offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the energy generation sector. Energy facilities can, in principle, be retrofitted to produce a portion of their energy from biomass. However, supply uncertainties affect costs, and are an important impediment to widespread and sustained adoption of this strategy. In this paper, we describe a general approach to assess the cost of offsetting GHG emissions at co-generation facilities by replacing two common fossil fuels, coal and natural gas, with forest harvest residue biomass for heat and electricity production. We apply the approach to a Canadian case study that identifies the price of GHG offsets that could make the use of forest residue biomass feedstock attractive. Biomass supply costs were based on a geographical assessment of industrial harvest operations in Canadian forests, biomass extraction and transportation costs, and included representation of basic ecological sustainability and technical accessibility constraints. Sensitivity analyses suggest that biomass extraction costs have the largest impact on the costs of GHG emission offsets, followed by fossil fuel prices. In the context of other evaluations of mitigation strategies in the energy generation sector, such as afforestation or industrial carbon capture, this analysis suggests that the substitution of fossil fuels by forest residue biomass could be a viable and reasonably substantive short-term alternative under appropriate GHG emission pricing schemes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renewable Energy from Forest Residues—How Greenhouse Gas Emission Offsets Can Make Fossil Fuel Substitution More Attractive

Yemshanov

McKenney

Hope

et al. 2018

Forests

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“…Questions have been raised about potential effects of increased utilization of harvest residues and other forest biomass on sustainable forest productivity [41]. Today, timber-harvesting operations in pine plantations of the southeastern USA are typically highly mechanized systems that either transport the whole tree to the deck or remove the top at the stump.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intensive Utilization of Harvest Residues in Southern Pine Plantations: Quantities Available and Implications for Nutrient Budgets and Sustainable Site Productivity

et al. 2009

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The rising costs and social concerns over fossil fuels have resulted in increased interest in and opportunities for biofuels. Biomass in the form of coarse woody residues remaining after traditional timber harvest in the southeastern USA is a potentially significant source of biomass for bioenergy. Questions remain regarding whether the removal of this material would constitute a sustainable silvicultural practice given the potential impact on soil nutrient cycling and other ecosystem functions. Our objective is to review existing studies to estimate quantities of residual materials on southern pine forests that may be available, potential nutrient removals, and potential replacement with fertilizer. Regionally, it is estimated that 32 million Mg year −1 of dry harvest residues may be available as a feedstock. At the stand level, between 50 and 85 Mg ha −1 of material is left on site after typical stem-only harvests, of which half could be removed using chippers at the landing. Based on these estimates, increase in midrotation fertilization rates of 45% to 60% may be needed on some sites to fully replace the nutrients from harvesting residues removed for bioenergy. Field experiments suggest that residue removals do not degrade forest productivity in many cases, but more data are needed to assess the effects of frequent removals (i.e., from short-rotation systems) over longer periods and identify sites that may be particularly sensitive to the practice. A benefit of developing markets for previously nonmerchantable materials may create incentives for improved forest management by landowners.

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“…The ecological state of Cornbelt forests could also potentially gain from a market for woody biomass that could help pay for management practices geared toward restoring historical conditions, preserving wildlife habitat, and reducing risk from disease, pests, and invasive species; many of these practices involve harvesting small diameter trees with little to no value in existing timber markets (Davis et al 2005). Ultimately, the amount of biomass that can be sustainably removed from a landscape is contingent upon a mix of social and ecological factors such as: landowner willingness to manage for biomass, compatibility of biomass removal with multi-use forest objectives including landowner conservation goals (e.g., water quality, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat), topography (impacting accessibility of required equipment), ecological process needs such as nutrient cycling, and post-management environmental concerns such as erosion and spread of invasive species (Mayfield et al 2007;Wynsma et al 2007). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding the US Cornbelt Biomass Portfolio: Forester Perceptions of the Potential for Woody Biomass

Tyndall

Schulte

Hall

2010

Small-scale Forestry

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With the strong emergence of the bioeconomy in the US, there is growing interest in the ability of biomass production systems to meet the legislated demand for cellulosic biofuels. While corn grain will continue to comprise the primary feedstock for biofuel in the Cornbelt, it is unlikely that a single biomass feedstock will suit all the needs of an evolving bioenergy market; thus, the potential contribution of woody biomass should be considered. To meet informational needs, we conducted structured interviews with state-employed professional foresters along the Mississippi River corridor in five Corn Belt states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin). Foresters were queried regarding the types of woody materials available, ecological considerations, the likely silvicultural systems that might support a biomass market, and their experiences with landowner management decisions as related to removing currently low-value material. Results suggest noteworthy interest in expanded woody biomass market systems within our study area. Furthermore, substantial opportunities exist to capture trimmings, smalldiameter, and low-quality material in conjunction with on-going intermediate stand treatments or sawtimber harvests that are common in the region; capturing social and economic value while potentially contributing to long-term forest health. Costs for removing this material are estimated to range between $185-494/ha ($75-200/ ac) depending on site conditions and accessibility. Such a wide range in costs (and therefore break-even biomass prices) suggests that some properties throughout the study region may be priced out of the market, at least in the initial stages of market development. Markets are distinctly lacking at present, however, and our interviewees suggested that market-pull will be required to organize a well-rounded infrastructure to harvest, process, store, and transport woody materials. This and future studies will be significant because they inform the enhancement of agricultural prosperity on small-to-medium farms and contribute to regional and national energy goals in ways that ideally improve, rather than diminish, the ecosystem services provided by woodlands in rowcrop-dominated landscapes.

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Opportunities, barriers, and strategies for forest bioenergy and bio-based product development in the Southern United States

Cited by 71 publications

References 2 publications

Renewable Energy from Forest Residues—How Greenhouse Gas Emission Offsets Can Make Fossil Fuel Substitution More Attractive

Renewable Energy from Forest Residues—How Greenhouse Gas Emission Offsets Can Make Fossil Fuel Substitution More Attractive

Intensive Utilization of Harvest Residues in Southern Pine Plantations: Quantities Available and Implications for Nutrient Budgets and Sustainable Site Productivity

Expanding the US Cornbelt Biomass Portfolio: Forester Perceptions of the Potential for Woody Biomass

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