|
Biomass harvesting put to the test |
|
|
Page 1 of 2
Forestry researchers look at biomass harvesting from the ground up.
At the International Conference on Woody Biomass Utilization at Mississippi State University in August, five presentations focused on
research projects involving different biomass harvesting systems.
 Bundling at the landing
Dana Mitchell from the Forest Operations Research Unit, USDA Forest
Service Southern Research Station in Auburn, AL presented her team's
findings on bundling logging residues at the landing with a modified
John Deere slash bundler.
A trailer-mounted John Deere B-380 bundling unit, which is used on the
mobile John Deere 1490D slash bundler, was integrated with a typical
Southern logging operation - feller-buncher cutting, whole tree grapple
skidding, delimbing and slash accumulation at the landing. The B-380
unit was added to the landing operations mounted on a CSI motorized
trailer with modifications made to the mounts and hydraulics. The
advantages the system delivered were integrated biomass removal with
other products at the landing and less maintenance and potentially less
capital investment compared to the mobile bundler (1490D).
Productivity comparisons were made with 1490D bundling operations on
site in the Western US (maximum 24 bundles per hour) and at the landing
in Arkansas (23 - 26 bundles per hour). Bundles weigh about 100 lbs.
per foot of length, on average 1/2 ton per bundle. Expectations for the
B-380 are in the same range as the Arkansas operations and future tests
will include wireless remote control operation of the unit.
Low cost biomass system
Tom Gallagher from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at
Auburn University presented a small scale biomass harvesting system
adaptable for Southern Pine or Appalachian hardwood thinnings with
target tree diameters between three and nine inches. A low cost system
using "off-the-shelf" equipment was evaluated.
 Felling was done with a small (54 HP, 9.5 tons) John Deere excavator
with a shear head. Extraction was handled with an Awassos Turbo Forest
skidder (50 HP, 5 tons) and processing with a Morbark Typhoon Chipper
(325 HP, 10 tons). The estimated costs of running the system
($/scheduled machine hour) was $88.23, with chipping the most costly
component ($38.16). Production rate for chips was 9.5 tons/hour in pine
and 10.5 in the hardwoods, limited mainly by feller-buncher and skidder
operator efficiency. All factors considered - low fuel consumption at
$2.50/gal, 33% indirect logging costs and 75% system utilization rate -
final on-board cost of 3 truckloads per day was $16.50 per ton. The
whole system cost under $300,000.
Making biomass pay
Eini Lowell of the Pacific Northwest Research Station looked at the
effects of policy incentives on biomass utilization with a view to
finding the optimum solution to help pay the way. She also introduced
the Harvest Cost-Revenue (HCR) Estimator tool used to estimate
harvesting revenue for a specific stand. Her focus was mainly on small
diameter ponderosa pine in the southwest.
The policy option that offered the biggest overall potential increase
in net profit (up to 187%) for a specific stand, would be to co-locate
production facilities (sawmilling and chipping). A $500/acre subsidy, a
certified product premium and a 50% equipment cost share would all
improve profitability. However, a 3% sales tax waiver and .01/kwh tax
credit (for biomass energy) would add little to profit, and, even
though transportation is the biggest cost, a fuel surcharge waiver and
transport tax credit would also have minimal impact.
The main message? No one policy is the solution and the right policy synergies could provide the best outcome.
|
