S.C. Grado

Economic evaluations of multiple rotation sric biomass plantations

Abstract A series of short-rotation intensive culture (SRIC) Populus plantations involving four management strategies (control, fertilization, irrigation, and fertilization-irrigation) were evaluated in tandem with alternate harvesting and storage strategies to determine the least cost method for supplying biomass to an ethanol conversion facility. The plantations were based on Populus hydrid NE-388, a tree spacing of 0.6 m × 0.8 m, and a rotation length of four years. First rotation yields from the various strategies ranged from 33 to 42 oven-dry metric tonne per hectare (Mg(OD) ha−1). An average yield increase of 12% was realized from the second rotation coppice plantations. The control strategy had the lowest production costs for the two rotations, averaging 532 Mg−1 (OD). Harvesting and storage requirements nearly doubled the final costs, with the least cost system having an average total cost of

Short rotation woody biomass plantations: Technical requirements and costs for establishment

66 Mg−1 (OD). Over 50% of the total cost originated from equipment and material inputs, with labor costs representing nearly 30% of the total and land the final 20%.

Input-output analysis of energy requirements for short rotation, intensive culture, woody biomass

Abstract The establishment of short rotation, intensive culture, (SRIC) woody biomass plantations using hybrid poplar was cost analyzed on a financial and energy input basis. Establishment operations were at a commercial scale and met the power requirements of each task in a cost-efficient manner. Total establishment costs amounted to

Using an inventory control model to establish biomass harvesting policies

1249 ha−1 and, on an energy cost basis, 16205 MJ ha−1. The planting operation was the largest expense, involving 73% of the total financial and energy costs in establishment. The second largest expense was herbicide spraying, costing approximately 22% on a financial and energy basis. In turn, establishment represented 36% of the total production costs in the 4-year rotation of non-fertilized plantations.

Production costs for first rotation biomass plantations

Abstract A production model for short rotation, intensive culture (SRIC) plantations was developed to determine the energy and financial costs of woody biomass. The model was based on hybrid poplars planted on good quality agricultural sites at a density of 2100 cuttings ha−1, with average annual growth forecast at 16 metric tonne, oven dry (Mg(OD)). Energy and financial analyses showed preharvest costs of 4381 megajoules (MJ) Mg−1 (OD) and

An inventory control model for supplying biomass to a processing facility

16 (U.S.) Mg−1 (OD). Harvesting and transportation requirements increased the total costs to 6130 MJ Mg−1 (OD) and

Financial selection of rotation age for SRIC plantations

39 Mg−1 (OD) for the delivered material. On an energy cost basis, the principal input was land, whereas on a financial basis, costs were more uniformly distributed among equipment, land, labor, and materials and fuel.

Cost parameters affecting multiple rotation SRIC biomass systems

Abstract The financial performance of a biomass-dependent production system was evaluated using an inventory control model. Dynamic programming was employed to examine the constraints and capabilities of producing ethanol from various biomass crops. In particular, the model evaluated the plantation, harvest, and manufacturing components of a woody biomass supply system. Using inventory control to establish biomass harvesting policies is one way of achieving a cost efficient operation. The optimum wood to ethanol production scheme could produce 38 million 1 of ethanol in any given harvest year, a 13.6 million 1 increase over the least optimal policy. Delivered cost was

Financial and energy costs of supplying woody biomass to conversion sites

0.38 l −1 consistent with the unit costs from other studies. Nearly 60% of the cost was from the manufacturing component of the system. The remaining costs were attributed to growing biomass (14%), harvest and shipment of the crop (18%), storage of the raw material and finished product (7%), and “lost sales” (2%). Inventory control, in all phases of production, could influence total delivered costs of ethanol by as much as 62%. A comparison between the least costly wood system and alternative systems further illustrated the benefits of inventory control.

Developing financial and energy accounting models for woody biomass systems

Abstract A series of short rotation Populus plantations involving alternate management strategies were evaluated in terms of the financial and energy costs required in the production process. The plantations used hybrid poplar NE-388 ( Populus maximowiczii × trichocarpa ), a tree spacing of 0·6 m × 0·8 m and a rotation length of 4 years. Four production strategies (control, irrigation, fertilization, and fertilization-irrigation) were employed on sites representing favorable and unfavorable growing conditions. The production costs were based on a proposed commercial design involving a plantation unit of 924 hectares, with 4 such units providing a sustainable supply of biomass. The control strategy on the better site was least expensive, with base stumpage costs of