1. MEC 3040: Bioenergy Module 7: Introduction to Woody Biomass
7.1: Recap: What is woody biomass
7.2: Use and benefits of woody biomass
7.3: Sources of bioenergy biomass
7.4: Wood resources
7.5: Study of wood energy resources in Vermont
7.6: Role of woody biomass in the Northern Forest region
7.7: Harvesting, transporting & storage of woody biomass
7.8: Northern Forest recommendations for biomass use
7.9: Future of woody biomass

2. What is woody biomass?

3. What is woody biomass?
Wood bioenergy: energy created by direct or indirect conversion of biomass from trees or woody shrubs.
Plants use woody biomass to create structure.
Created when photosynthesis provides the energy to create woody polymers from water & carbon dioxide.
Composition?
Water;
Cellulose;
Hemicellulose; and
Lignin.
Methods of use:
Direct combustion;
In the absence or presence of fossil fuels; or
A variety of thermal, chemical or biochemical conversions.
The path to carbon neutrality is theoretically direct as carbon released by use of woody biomass can be used to grow young trees or shrubs.
Dahiya (2015)

4. Wood energy content
Typical dry-sample values for Northeastern woods (GHV-DS)
Average
(Btu/dry lb)
Low
High
hardwoods
white ash
8246
8920
white birch
8019
8650
elm
8171
8810
hickory
8039
8670
maple
7995
8580
Red oak
8037
8690
white oak
8169
poplar
8311
softwoods
white cedar
7780
8400
eastern hemlock
8885
white pine
8306
8900
Dry wood is heated in an oven until the mass stops dropping & all moisture is removed.
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

5. Less energy dense
Wood, like all biomass, is less energy dense than fossil fuels.
Average
(Btu/dry lb)
Maple
8,350
spruce
8,720
corn
8,120
Fuel oil
19,590
Natural gas
22,080
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

6. Moisture lowers energy content
In practice, wood biomass is not delivered or used in bone-dry condition. We can calculate the energy content of wet wood using a simple equation.
GVH-AF = (GVH-DS) (1 – (MC/100))
energy content of bone-dry wood
moisture
content
(%)
energy content of wet wood
For example, calculate the energy content of a wood with 40% moisture and a dry heating value of 8,500 Btu/pound.
GVH-AF = (8,500 Btu/lb) (1 – (40/100)) = (8,500 Btu/lb) (1 – 0.4)
= (8,500 Btu/lb) (0.6) = 5,100 Btu/lb
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

7. Effect of moisture
50% moisture content reduces wood energy values by half.
40% moisture content is common.
Moisture content (%)
GHV-AF (Btu/lb)
Oven-dry
8500
25%
6375
30%
5950
35%
5525
40%
5100
45%
4675
50%
4250
55%
3825
60%
3400
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

8. What is a cord?
One cord of split firewood (chunk wood) is a well-stacked pile that is:
4 feet wide;
4 feet high; and
8 feet long.
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

9. Use & benefits of woody bioenergy

10. Breakdown of biomass use in US
In 2010, US biomass use looked like this:
46% was wood or wood-derived
43% was biofuel, mainly ethanol
11% was derived from municipal waste
Add graph?
BIOEN1
and

11. Woody bioenergy: very old technology
The burning of wood for heat and power is a very old technology & pre-dates the written history of human civilizations.
The use of wood for heating is increasing in Europe, partly due to clean-air regulations.
Wood pellets are shipped from the US & Canada.
In 2015, 6.1 million tons were exported.
Four times as much as in 2010.
In the US, many wood producers and processors use waste wood for heat and or CHP.
In the US, wood bioenergy is 23% of total renewable energy production.
Dahiya (2015); US Energy Information Administration;

12. Benefits? Woody bioenergy has a number of potential benefits.
Displacing fossil fuels and thus slowing increase of climate change
Energy security & independence
Economic benefits for rural communities & land owners
Enhancing forests (???)
Wood energy makes sense when the need is located close to abundant supplies, making it popular in rural areas with forest cover.
Dahiya (2015); US Energy Information Administration

13. Use of wood in Vermont
Two commercial wood-fired electric-generating stations
Several industrial scale heating plants that use wood-chips
Wood-chips heat over 40 schools;
Four college campuses;
Two state office complexes; and
Five other state facilities.
Wood pellets heat 10 schools;
14 multi-family housing complexes; and
Two state buildings.
Many residential households are heated with chunk wood or wood pellets.
Dahiya (2015); US Energy Information Administration;

14. The most efficient use of biomass?
Using wood biomass to produce heat is the most efficient use of this resource at both the residential and commercial scale.
30% of Vermont’s annual wood harvest is already used for firewood.
At the larger, commercial, scale Vermont should support sustained and efficient “thermal-led” biomass energy projects:
Thermal energy; or
CHP with > 75% efficiency; rather than
Electric generation only.
 Only 20-25% efficient
Vermont’s forests and our energy future, National Wildlife Federation and VNRC

15. Fuels for schools in Vermont
In 2009 / 2010, 43 Vermont schools used woodchip heat.
Used 23,271 green tons of woodchips;
Offset 1.5 million gallons of oil;
Saved $1.7 million dollars; for
An average of 46% of each school’s heating cost.
This is an efficient use of biomass energy.
Vermont’s forests and our energy future, National Wildlife Federation and VNRC

16. Efficient Vermont biomass case studies
Barre Town Elementary School
Converted from electric heat to woodchip heating in late 1990s
Annual cost savings of $100,000
2009 – 2010 heating season:
477 tons of wood from Lathrop Forest Products of Bristol, VT
For $42,786
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

17. Efficient Vermont biomass case studies
NRG Systems’ pellet heating project
NRG Systems of Hinesburg, VT has two LEED-gold certified facilities:
46,000-square foot and 31,000-square foot
Four Tarm wood pellet boilers, each with 140,000 Btu capacity
In the 2010 – 2011 heating season they used pellets from New England Coop
25 tons and 10 tons
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

18. Efficient Vermont biomass case studies
Middlebury College district heating project
Central woodchip gasifier was installed in 2008
Tied into the existing oil-fired heating plant
Uses 20,000 tons of woodchips annually
Supplied from a 75-mile radius
Includes a willow plantation
Replaced 40% of oil use
In the first year, annual savings were about $2 million
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

19. Sources of energy biomass

20. Forest sources of wood for energy?
Logging residues & thinnings provide several tons per acre of:
Whole trees;
Limbs;
Leaves;
Branches; and
Tops.
Many believe that this practice removes nutrients need for forest regrowth.
There are guidelines and recommendations aimed at preventing adverse effects from use of this ‘waste’ material.
Thinnings created when reducing risks of fires or cleaning up from natural disasters.
Fires;
Hurricanes & wind storms; and
Ice storms; and
Large insect infestations (often invasive)
Dahiya (2015); US Energy Information Administration

21. Waste sources of wood energy
Wood manufacturing waste
sawdust
chips
Slabs
 Often used as on-site / process bioenergy
Urban waste
Construction / deconstruction debris
Landscape waste
 typically sent to landfills
Waste wood picture
Dahiya (2015)

22. Short rotation woody crop systems
Short rotation woody crop systems (SRWCs) are forests managed for the production of energy biomass
Plantations
Fast-growing trees with desirable energy traits
Typical species:
hybrid poplar
eucalyptus
sweetgum
Special equipment chips trees as they are harvested.

23. Silviculture
Silviculture: the intentional growing of trees for human use
Aka forest management
Purposeful manipulation of the natural landscape to achieve a set of objections.
Production of a forest product like pulpwood or timber.
Improving habitat for wildlife
Enhancing recreational opportunities
Improving the land for future generations
Aesthetics and beauty
The intensity of silvicultural projects varies with location and objectives.
Most projects use foresters and other professionals.

24. Southern pine plantations
The term ‘plantation’ reflects the intensely agricultural approach to this type of silviculture.
The most productive seedlings are selected for the location and purpose.
Seedlings are planted in the most productive locations.
Seedlings are planted in rows at a specified density per acre.
Ground is prepared for planting.
Fertilizer is applied.
Forests are monitored and managed to ensure the maximum production of wood per acre.
Thinning produces the first product; and
Allows remaining trees to grow larger and faster.
Split slide and add images?
While most SRWCs involve growing softwoods, advances are being made with hardwood SRWCs in some locations.

25. Southern pine plantations
Harvest can take several forms:
Clearcut
Seed tree
Shelter wood
Gap cuts
Group cuts
While most SRWCs involve growing softwoods, advances are being made with hardwood SRWCs in some locations.

26. Wood resources

27. Forests Forest: land with at least 10% tree cover
US: Forest covers about 1/3 of all land mass.
750 million acres (~3 million square km)
Table of forest resources by country from UN FAO
Dahiya (2015); UN FAO

28. Forest ownership In the US forest ownership varies by region.
In the eastern US forests are largely privately owned.
Individuals
Corporations
Investment firms
NGOs
In the western US forests are largely publically held.
US Forest Service;
US Bureau of Land Management; &
US National Park Service.
Dahiya (2015); US Forest Service

29. Goals of forest ownership?
Forests are managed for a variety of goals & objectives ranging from simple profit to ongoing profit to preservation and conservation.
Plantation management: trees are planted for the express purpose of harvesting for uses ranging from paper pulp to lumber to bioenergy.
Common in the southeastern US (45 million acres)
Harvest can wait for need or maximal profit. The longer the tree grows the more valuable it is.
Advantages?
Preserves natural forests?
Disadvantages?
Monocultures are vulnerable to diseases & pests; and
Don’t benefit wildlife as much as natural ecosystems do.
Dahiya (2015)

30. Forest management
Most forest management schemes share the goal of creating sustainable forest or sustainable tree production.
Regeneration is accomplished by:
Artificial replanting; or
Natural regeneration
Best management practices seek to:
Maintain water quality; and
Create resilience to attack by diseases & insects.
Dahiya (2015)

31. Issues: overstocking
Overstocking: forests that are too densely wooded fro optimal timber growth.
Fire hazards;
Stagnant growth; and
Encourage diseases, insects & invasive species.
Management solutions?
Controlled burning;
Thinning; or
Limited commercial harvesting
Add images?
Yellowstone fire of 1988 burned 880,000 acres
Dahiya (2015)

32. Issues: ‘hi-grading’
‘Hi-grading’: harvesting only the biggest or healthiest trees and leaving the small or unhealthy trees to regenerate the forest. Common in hardwood forests.
Limits long-term profits; and
Limits ecosystem regeneration and function.
Management solutions?
Clearing small & sick trees after the harvest of the most valuable lumber.
This material may be valuable as a bioenergy resource.
Dahiya (2015)

33. Study of wood energy
resources in Vermont

34. Study of Vermont’s wood supply
In 2007, Vermont’s Biomass Energy Research Center undertook a study called the Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study (VTWFSS) to understand the capacity of Vermont’s forest to provide fuel in a sustainable fashion.
Note that most forest data focuses on high quality wood used for timber. Energy wood is of lower quality.
The study focused on Vermont & adjacent counties of NY, MA, NH and considered large users of wood fuel in those same areas.
Goals:
Determine the potential low-grade wood available for harvest;
Model the impacts of future demand for fuel wood; and
Examine economics of fuel wood supply.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)

35. Demand & supply?
Combined consumption of residue & low-grade wood for pulp, biomass & seasonal heating by chips or cordwood within the study are is estimated at 3.5 million green tons annually.
Today much of this need is met using wood harvested outside the study area.
In study area
Just outside study area
Green tons used annually
1 pulpmill
3 pulpmills
750,000
6 biomass power plants
5 power plants
1,400,000
Many institutional & commercial heating systems
40,000
Widespread use of firewood for residential heating
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007)

36. Calculation of potential supply
USDA Forest Service information about forests in study areas suggests this potential supply.
9.3 million acres of forested land designated ‘timberland’ with:
1.1 billion tons of above-ground biomass;
24.8 million tons of net growth new wood annually
4.8 million tons average annual harvest of all forest products
So, 20 million tons of under-utilized wood produced annually
What portion of that 20 million tons should be harvested and how much is accessible?
Net Available Low-Grade Growth (NALG) spreadsheet tool created:
Rate of forest growth?
Percentage of growth considered low-grade?
Physical & legal accessibility of this biomass?
Political, social & economic feasibility?
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007)

37. Data & methods
Data:
US Forest Service’s Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) program
Methods:
GIS analysis connected to
Spreadsheet analysis
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

38. Methods 1. Start with forestland acres (2006 NLCD)
2. GIS filtering for physical & ecological features
3. Apply key assumptions: % management by ownership category
4. Calculate forest inventory & composition per acre of timberland
5. Apply net annual growth rate
6. Apply key assumption: % low-grade bole vs. top & limb
7. Calculate net annual growth of low-grade wood on accessible, appropriate & managed forestland
8. Subtract averaged annual harvest of low-grade wood
9. Calculate NALG wood.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

39. FIA data FIA data was used for 5” diameter and larger for:
growing stock;
cull; &
non-commercial species.
Excluded:
Standing & downed deadwood;
Seedlings & sapwood;
Foliage;
Stumps; &
Below-ground biomass.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

40. FIA net growth Net growth = in-growth + accretion - mortality
(natural tree death)
(new trees)
(growth of existing trees)
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

41. Data filters
The forest footprint was filtered for features that would indicate:
Inaccessibility; or
Inappropriateness.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

42. Forestland area Vermont % Inaccessible, inappropriate 31
Accessible & appropriate; not managed 28
Accessible, appropriate & managed 42
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

43. NAGL inventory (moderate scenario)
Growing stock
Cull trees
Total wood
boles
tops & limbs
all
Addison
3,441,891
419,333
3,861,225
1,018,565
71,203
1,089,769
4,460,457
490,537
4,950,990
Bennington
5,014,087
600,922
5,615,010
1,003,679
76,207
1,079,887
6,017,767
677,129
6,694,897
Caledonia
3,332,124
398,610
3,730,735
1,476,066
89,348
1,565,414
4,808,191
487,958
5,296,149
Chittenden
3,068,780
376,372
3,445,153
808,747
55,751
864,498
3,877,528
432,123
4,309,651
Essex
4,511,428
603,023
5,114,451
831,097
71,912
903,010
5,342,525
674,936
6,017,462
Franklin
3,916,993
489,761
4,406,754
1,108,336
72,871
1,181,208
5,025,329
562,633
5,587,963
Grand Isle
251,336
31,741
283,078
22,250
2,033
24,284
273,587
33,774
307,362
Lamoille
4,162,847
514,832
4,677,680
1,135,991
77,260
1,213,251
5,298,838
592,093
5,890,931
Orange
5,597,063
637,203
6,234,266
1,115,052
75,248
1,190,301
6,712,116
712,451
7,424,568
Orleans
3,901,181
494,102
4,395,284
1,525,058
107,307
1,623,366
5,246,240
601,410
6,027,651
Rutland
6,814,036
812,706
7,626,743
1,392,758
100,529
1,493,287
8,206,794
913,236
9,120,030
Washington
5,044,535
609,590
5,654,126
1,201,157
85,493
1,295,651
6,254,693
695,084
6,949,777
Windham
9,205,693
1,073,539
10,279,232
1,380,600
91,575
1,472,175
10,586,293
1,165,114
11,751,408
Windsor
9,573,023
1,135,837
10,708,860
1,344,309
94,619
1,438,929
10,917,332
1,230,457
12,147,789
Total
67,835,024
8,197,579
76,032,603
15,372,673
1,071,363
16,444,036
83,207,697
9,268,942
92,476,639

44. Most low-grade wood is bole
Some conclusions:
Most NAGL wood is growing stock vs. cull;
And most is bole vs. top and limb;
Net annual growth rates of NAGL are highest in Vermont’s southern counties where they reach 200,000 green tons/year.
Harvest of saw logs has dropped with economic decline.
Harvest of pulpwood has declined due to closure of mills in NH.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)

45. Harvest of NAGL in Vermont
Firewood
Pulp
Woodchips
Total
Addison
35,026
3,600
1,141
39,766
Bennington
37,565
6,302
8,888
53,755
Caledonia
55,762
96,282
21,719
173,763
Chittenden
56,196
3,706
19,397
79,300
Essex
24,684
30,101
12,560
67,345
Franklin
54,890
15,045
14,263
84,198
Grand Isle
11,796
Lamoille
53,434
5,934
7,650
67,018
Orange
82,886
37,541
167,732
Orleans
45,727
26,619
13,502
85,848
Rutland
31,385
17,514
2,282
51,181
Washington
80,640
16,027
12,058
108,725
Windham
72,262
17,860
826
90,948
Windsor
109,793
25,571
49,456
184,820
752,045
302,102
211,047
1,265,194
59% % %

46. NALG analysis
Spatial distribution of NAGL modeling in the moderate scenario deemed most realistic.
Note that forest cover in some surrounding counties is high and harvest in NH has dropped as mills closed. NY has likely underestimated current harvests for paper mills in Ticonderoga and Glenns Falls
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

47. NALG density per county
NALG wood yields shown on a per-acre basis.
Reflects the high levels of low-grade harvest in Caledonia, Orange & Windsor counties.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

48. Ownership affects forest management
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007);
VTWFSS Update (2010)

49. Ownership affects forest management
Note that parcel size also influences management: parcels of greater than 50 acres are more likely to be harvested than smaller parcels.
% actively managed & periodically harvested
ownership
conservative
moderate
intensive
National Forest 10 15 20
State 40 55 65
Municipal
Forest industry 80 90
100
Farmer 75
Corporate
Individual <50 acres 30 45
Individual >50 acres 85
Other 50 60
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)

50. NAGL results conservative moderate intensive Addison 24,475 69,681
131,549
Bennington
40,596
97,732
188,040
Caledonia -
7,058
Chittenden
25,381
69,249
Essex
20,083
61,401
133,513
Franklin
1,271
39,369
105,578
Grand Isle
750
1,963
Lamoille
14,467
61,624
134,513
Orange
28,115
98,648
Orleans
4,225
45,854
120,391
Rutland
66,614
151,143
269,166
Washington
43,574
131,660
Windham
57,930
166,216
314,943
Windsor
17,138
104,055
234,928
Vermont total
246,799
894,893
1,940,695
Study total
1,332,419
3,107,597
5,822,497
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)

51. NAGL is sensitive to assumptions
The results of the VTWSSF study are dependent on a host of variables that include assumptions. Some of these assumptions can vary widely with interpretation.
For example, if a group of foresters walk through a plot each may estimate a different percent of growing stock bole wood.
These differences change the inventory of NAGL green tons.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007)

52. Effect of changing forest growth rate?
The NALG model uses a constant annual growth rate.
If that rate is changed over the 10-year study period, the inventory of NAGL wood is dramatically changed.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)

53. Economic analysis: chip cost
There are two types of wood chips:
Residue chips, a co-product of activities; and
Chips produced from wood harvested for fuel
Whole-tree chips
Bole chips
Increased demand won’t increase the production of residue chips, but will increase the amount of chips produced for energy production.
The economics of wood chips were studied under three conditions:
Current product mix maintained under integrated harvesting;
Increased demand for low-grade wood under integrated harvesting; and
Complete independence from integrated harvesting (ie harvesting low-grade wood exclusively.
Product
$/green ton
Bole chips
$40 - $64
Whole-tree chips
$30 - $40
Higher costs occur when low-grade wood is harvested for energy rather than as part of integrated harvesting.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007)

54. VTWFSS conclusions
Vermont’s biomass supply is produced as a co-product of forest harvesting.
Vermont’s forests have the capacity to sustain some additional biomass fuel harvest: 0.25 – 1.9 million green tons.
Some counties have greater capacity than others.
The future of the pulp and paper industry will effect the harvest & cost of biomass for heating.
Higher prices paid for wood fuel will increase harvest and reliability of biomass supply.
Bole- & whole-tree chips may become a commodity on their own rather than as a co-product.
Loggers & mills are barely surviving.
Average age of loggers is 45.
There are no new sawmills in Vermont.
Pulpmill activity is decreasing.
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007); VTWFSS Update (2010)
Vermont Wood Fuel Supply Study, BERC (2007)

55. Capacity to expand wood energy in VT?
What are the implications of some additional “low-grade” wood fuel?
250,000 – 900,000 additional green tons per year in sustainable scenarios.
The conservative amount wouldn’t even fire one large electric generation facility.
The high estimate would supply several power stations, OR
could be used to hat all of the states schools
and heat more homes;
plus heating districts like Monteplier and Brattleboro.
Vermont must use this small additional supply wisely and sustainably.
Decentralized use would spread the economic benefits across the state.
Vermont’s forests and our energy future, National Wildlife Federation and VNRC

56. Role of woody biomass in the Northern Forest region?

57. The Northern Forest region
The Northern Forest region encompasses northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York
More than 26 million acres of forestland.
The largest contiguous forested region in eastern US.
Valuable resource for both man and wildlife.
Previously exploited for timber & then pulp & paper.
What’s the future here?
Will the region become a leader in sustainable biomass use?
Or will biomass use exploit the forests & lead to boom-and bust economic cycles?
Roadmap to a sustainable energy future for the Northern Forest Region, BERC (2009)
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

58. Vision of the future
In 2007, meetings of stakeholders in the Northern Forest region developed a vision and principles for a local biomass energy future of the region.
This vision has five guiding principles:
Sustainable forestry: to keep the forest healthy and allow harvest that supports overall ecological function and integrity of the forest ecosystem.
Maximized efficiency: to ensure that the energy value of harvested biomass will be utilized as fully and cleanly as possible.
Local energy: to use local wood resources for community & regional needs at the appropriate scale.
Energy security: to provide communities & businesses with a stable, consistent & affordable supply of clean energy using local resources.
Climate change mitigation: to reduce net carbon emissions and increase carbon sequestration to mitigate global warming.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

59. Purpose of recommendations
A group of 17 recommendations serve to:
Encourage private-sector initiatives inspired by public-sector leadership & support.
Emphasize public- and private-sector partnerships that leverage action and investment in each sector while adding substantial value for private industry, government and local communities.
Address issues of interest to large forestland owners (pubic & private) as well as small private landowners aka ‘family forest landowners’.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

60. Wood supply
To understand the capacity of the forest to supply woody biomass sustainably and to guard against overharvesting.
Assess the amount of low-quality woody biomass available on a long-term sustainable basis.
Track wood harvest and compare with forest growth annually for optimal management.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

61. Harvest & procurement To support sustainable forest management
3. Fund state & federal agencies to practice sustainable forest management on
public lands.
4. Strongly support sustainable forest management on public lands through
voluntary approaches.
5. Develop model wood fuel procurement standards to ensure sustainable
harvest.
6. Maintain, support & expand existing forest harvesting & wood-product
supply infrastructure through workforce development & training, policies,
incentives, etc.,.
7. Expand education & outreach to forestland owners, the public & others
about sustainable forest stewardship & the benefits of clean biomass
energy.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

62. Harvest, transportation & storage of woody biomass

63. Scale
The specialized equipment used to harvest and process woody biomass for energy requires considerable capital investment and limits the scale of operations that can be profitable.
In North America, most operations are large-scale and quite mechanized.
Equipment:
feller/bunchers
skidders
harvesters
chippers
How much acreage makes an operation profitable? This depends on a number of factors like:
Volume & quality of wood;
Access to roads & markets; and
Ease of geography.
Ideally product & residues are collected in either one or two passes without moving the equipment.
Dahiya (2015)

64. Transportation
Ease of transportation depends on the condition, size and weight of the biomass.
Moisture & grit content matter.
Typically, wood is processed on-site into smaller pieces for transportation using:
chippers;
shredders; and
grinders.
Wood that has been broken down this way is said to be ‘comminuted’.
Smaller pieces of wood also dry more quickly; moisture reduction is a critical part of processing.
Most processed biomass is transported by truck.
Dahiya (2015)

65. Storage
Ideally woody biomass is used as received without the need for long-term storage.
Long-term storage of damp or wet woody biomass can result in:
Growth of mold and fungi; and
Significant heating (as decomposition begins).
Heat of decomposition can cause piles of stored chips or sawdust to self-ignite.
Dahiya (2015)

66. Northern Forest region recommendations on use of woody biomass

67. Where does biomass energy fit in?
Reducing fossil fuel consumption by 5% per year over the next 40 years would cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and by 80-90% by 2050.
To enhance use of biomass energy:
Develop policy & financing that supports clean & efficient biomass to heat institutions, communities & businesses.
Inventory low-quality woody biomass for sustainable energy use.
Support local ownership of biomass with public benefits by creating energy service companies that allow local capital investment & equity while providing technical, financial, regulatory & permitting expertise.
Create a Northeast Biomass Energy Incubator.
Roadmap to a sustainable energy future for the Northern Forest Region, BERC (2009)

68. Efficient technology
To encourage clean & efficient use of biomass fuel & improve technologies that are matched to community-scale use.
8. Create & fund a ‘Northeast Biomass Incubator Center’ to commercalize &
support development & implementation of clean, efficient biomass energy.
9. Create / expand grants, incentives, etc., to develop & implement clean,
efficient biomass energy technologies.
10. Ensure that state & federal policies & programs aimed at RE – RPS, REC,
SBC – include clean, efficient biomass technologies.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

69. Emissions
To ensure that biomass energy is used in ways that meet or exceed air emission regulations.
11. Establish consistent state & federal air emission standards for biomass facilities; multi-pollutant including carbon.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

70. Climate change mitigation
To increase carbon sequestration & decrease atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by supporting utilization of woody biomass to replace or offsett fossil fuels.
12. Evaluate & document the carbon cycles of biomass energy to increase
understanding and work to carbon neutrality and sequestration.
13. Use state, regional or national carbon registries to measure, aggregate or
verify carbon offsets. Dovetail with national & international carbon
markets.
14. Support & expand national, regional, state & municipal carbon
sequestration & reduction policies & incentives like RGGI and carbon
taxes Identify the role of biomass energy.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

71. Investment & financing
To stimulate the purchase & use of a variety of clean, efficient biomass energy technologies & develop biomass energy projects that enhance local economies.
15. Create or expand federal & state financing mechanisms to capitalize and
support use of clean, efficient biomass energy in publically owned facilities.
16. Develop public policy mechanisms & financial incentives to support the use
of clean, efficient biomass in thermal applications for insitutions,
communities & businesses.
17. Support local ownership of biomass energy porjects that deliver public
benefits by encouraging the creation of energy service companies that
allow local capital investment & provide assistance & expertise.
Northern forest biomass energy action plan, BERC (2007)

72. Future of wood biomass

73. Trend in biomass burning
1980s: Installation of integrated fuel handling & combustion systems that worked smoothly in schools, hospitals, commercial buildings
Early 1990s: Improvements in efficiency and cleaner emissions
Late 1990s, early 2000s: Improved reliability and ease of operations
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

74. New uses: district heating
District heating plants: use of a central plant with buried piping to heat a district or group of buildings.
Common on college campuses
St. Paul, MN (hot water)
Government complexes in Waterbury & Montpelier VT (steam)
Scandanavia
Charlottetown PEI
50-apartment low-income housing in Barre, VT ($26/month heat/hot water)
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

75. New uses: district heating
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)

76. New uses: district heating
District heating plants: use of a central plant with buried piping to heat a district or group of buildings
Common on college campuses
St. Paul, MN (hot water)
Government complexes in Waterbury & Montpelier VT (steam)
Scandanavia
Charlottetown PEI
50-apartment low-income housing in Barre, VT ($26/month heat/hot water)
Gasification: wood fuel is heated without oxygen to release combustible gases that are cooled and cleaned to produce a bio-gas that can be stored & transported.
Gasification would make production of electricity by wood more efficient, particularly with a CHP system.
Bio-gas can also be used in micro-tubines & fuel cells.
Wood-chip heating systems: a guide for institutional and commercial biomass installations, BERC (2004)