Perttu Anttila

Using the ComBio decision support system to assess whether energy wood and/or pulpwood should be harvested in young forests

The operational environment of forest-chip procurement in Finland is challenging, because increasing production is raising the costs due to the limited availability of biomass. Integrated harvesting of industrial roundwood and energy wood is one solution to lower the costs of biomass procurement from young forest stands. In addition, integration creates flexibility for operations management because the procurement can be adjusted to meet the current demand for wood biomass. The recovery options of young forest thinning consist of pure industrial roundwood, pure energy wood, and integrated harvesting of both industrial roundwood and energy wood. However, without calculation tools, the outcomes of the alternative recovery options are difficult to see before operations have been carried out, because operational variables such as bucking diameter and bolt length have a direct influence on the accumulation of roundwood and energy wood. This article presents the ComBio decision support system, which can be used to produce information considering biomass recovery options, compare these options, and support selection among them. ComBio’s structure, input data, model estimation procedure, and methods for comparison and decision support are introduced. Finally, a demonstration of ComBio is carried out with sample forest data.

A GIS-based comparison of long-distance supply of energy wood for future needs from young forests to the coast of Finland

With increasing demand and competition for forest biomass, the future will see its transportation distances increase in Finland. The aim of the study was to evaluate long-distance transportation solutions and intermodal handling of energy wood for its journey from young forests to a combined heat and power plant in Kokkola, Finland. Via a case study, the costs of various supply chains were estimated on the basis of spatially explicit data. The potentials were estimated from National Forest Inventory data. With GIS assistance, supply points were determined, and supply costs with nine distinct supply chains were calculated for each point on the basis of transport distances and productivity models. Both whole-tree and delimbed stemwood chains were included. The transport modes considered were trains, traditional 60-tonne trucks, and combinations with new high-capacity transport (HCT) vehicles of 68 and 76 tonnes and train transportation. Whole trees were assumed to be transported either as chips or in uncomminuted form to train terminals, whereas delimbed stemwood remained uncomminuted. Use of interchangeable containers was assumed in two of the whole-tree chains. In our study, the whole-tree supply chains did not prove to be competitive with the stemwood chains. Train-based chains proved to be cost-competitive with the traditional truck chain only in very limited areas around the terminals. The costs of the supply chains based on use of HCT vehicles were always lower than the costs associated with the train-based chains. The greatest barrier in long-distance and intermodal transport of forest chips is the high cost of transport by rail.

Modeling Biomass Logistics

This chapter will presents the current status and the main challenges of biomass logistics. Logistical aspects of the biomass supply chain will be delineated. It further provides a thorough description of different methodologies to design biomass value chains combined with relevant logistical assessment criteria. This includes also descriptions for how to integrate the various logistical components in modeling logistical tools that are currently available to implement the described methodologies. The chapter finishes with a set of case studies based on local data and made with these logistical tools.

Assessing Lignocellulosic Biomass Potentials From Forests and Industry

Lignocellulosic biomass from forests and forest industries represents a crucial resource for the bioeconomy. Many assessments have been carried out over the last decade to quantify biomass potentials from forests and forest industries. The results from these assessments are quite diverse because of varying definitions and assumptions. Here we report on a recent comprehensive assessment carried out in the frame of the S2Biom project for 37 countries in Europe. We present the methodology to estimate biomass from forests and the forest industries, with a specific effort to estimate forest biomass supply costs. A set of biomass potentials is presented, that offers flexibility to users to select biomass potentials according to specific requirements, information demands, and policy contexts. Results are presented at the regional level for different types of potentials and with associated costs to allow better insight into the composition of the potential. The associated S2Biom toolset and database allows users to select results based on own preferences and needs, thereby offering the most comprehensive assessment of forest biomass potentials currently available in Europe.

Alueellinen metsähaketase vuonna 2030

Anttila P., Nivala V., Salminen O., Hurskainen M., Kärki J., Lindroos T.J., Asikainen A. (2018). Alueellinen metsähaketase vuonna 2030. Metsätieteen aikakauskirja 2018-9999. Tutkimusseloste. 3 s. https://doi.org/10.14214/ma.9999 Yhteystiedot 1Luonnonvarakeskus (Luke), Tuotantojärjestelmät, Joensuu; 2 Luonnonvarakeskus (Luke), Biotalous ja ympäristö, Rovaniemi; 3 Luonnonvarakeskus (Luke), Biotalous ja ympäristö, Helsinki; 4 Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy, Luonnonvaraja ympäristöratkaisut, Jyväskylä; 5 Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy, Älykäs teollisuus ja energiajärjestelmät, Espoo Sähköposti perttu.anttila@luke.fi Hyväksytty 04.05.2018 Seloste artikkelista Anttila P., Nivala V., Salminen O., Hurskainen M., Kärki J., Lindroos T.J., Asikainen A. (2018). Regional balance of forest chip supply and demand in Finland in 2030. Silva Fennica vol. 52 no. 2 article id 9902. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.9902