Biomass Biomass Harvesting and Harvesting and TransportationTransportationBob RummerBob Rummer

US Forest ServiceUS Forest ServiceForest Operations ResearchForest Operations ResearchAuburn, AlabamaAuburn, Alabama

A Billion-Ton FeedstockA Billion-Ton Feedstock

Forests currently Forests currently about 70%about 70%

2.5 x increase to 2.5 x increase to 368M bdt368M bdt

Future Woody FeedstocksFuture Woody Feedstocks

144M tons forest industry residues144M tons forest industry residues 64M tons logging residues64M tons logging residues 60M tons thinning/fuel treatments60M tons thinning/fuel treatments 52M tons fuelwood harvest52M tons fuelwood harvest 47M tons urban woodwaste47M tons urban woodwaste

Biomass ChallengesBiomass Challenges

Small diameter harvesting costsSmall diameter harvesting costs Low SVF increases handling/transportLow SVF increases handling/transport Low product values to pay the freightLow product values to pay the freight Ecological/environmental issuesEcological/environmental issues No silver bulletNo silver bullet

2 acres of biomass2 acres of biomass

Biomass—31 FlavorsBiomass—31 Flavors

Removal costRemoval cost

“The cheapest way to get the 4” stick is when it is on top of an 8” stick.” Steve Aulerich

Bentley and Johnson, 2003

13% softwood volume24% hardwood volume

Biomass UtilizationBiomass Utilization

#1. Integrated recovery#1. Integrated recovery

ChippingChipping

Integrated recoveryIntegrated recovery

Biomass only has to cover the cost of Biomass only has to cover the cost of comminution and transportcomminution and transport

May even receive value of avoided May even receive value of avoided disposal costsdisposal costs

May include energywood harvestMay include energywood harvest Integration with existing systems is keyIntegration with existing systems is key

Biomass BundlingBiomass Bundling

#2. Thinnings#2. Thinnings

ThinningsThinnings

Lowest cost extraction (?)Lowest cost extraction (?) Small merchantable mat’l can be Small merchantable mat’l can be

processed effectively with known systemsprocessed effectively with known systems Limits on tract size, total volumeLimits on tract size, total volume Biomass value has to cover cost from Biomass value has to cover cost from

stump to userstump to user Ground-based impactsGround-based impacts

#3. Brush harvest#3. Brush harvest

Biomass recovery can be credited with Biomass recovery can be credited with the value of stand cleaningthe value of stand cleaning

Small diameter/low volume reduces Small diameter/low volume reduces productivityproductivity

Special equipmentSpecial equipment

Biomass harvestingBiomass harvesting

Chip RecoveryChip Recovery

Brush harvestingBrush harvesting

Photo: Texas A&M Univ

You can’t go far …You can’t go far …

0

1

23

4

5

6

78

9

10

10 15 20 30 40 50 60

1-way miles1-way miles

$/gt$/gt.10/ton-mile.10/ton-mile

.15/ton-mile.15/ton-mile

PayloadPayload

Slash transportSlash transport

ConclusionsConclusions

#1: Lowest cost to user—residues#1: Lowest cost to user—residues #2: Thinnings#2: Thinnings #3: Niche systems for brush, smallwood, #3: Niche systems for brush, smallwood,

SRWCSRWC Biomass for energy will not pay for stump Biomass for energy will not pay for stump

to mill without subsidyto mill without subsidy Wide variety of optionsWide variety of options

www.srs.fs.usda.gowww.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestopsv/forestops