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Cost, energy use and GHG emissions for forest biomass harvesting operations

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  • Zhang, Fengli
  • Johnson, Dana M.
  • Wang, Jinjiang
  • Yu, Chunxia

Abstract

For forest-based biomass to become a significant contribution to the United States' energy portfolio, harvesting operations must be physically feasible and economically viable. An assessment of cost, energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of forest biomass harvesting was conducted. The assessment differentiates harvesting systems by cut-to-length and whole tree; harvest types of 30%, 70%, and 100% cut; and forest types of hardwoods, softwoods, mixed hardwood/softwood, and softwood plantations. Harvesting cost models were developed for economic assessment and life cycle energy and emission assessment was applied to calculate energy and emissions for different harvesting scenarios, considering material and energy inputs (machinery, diesel, etc.) and outputs (GHG emissions) for each harvesting process (felling, forwarding/skidding, etc.). The developed harvesting cost models and the life cycle energy and emission assessment method were applied in Michigan, U.S. using information collected from different sources. A sensitivity analysis was performed for selected input variables for the harvesting operations in order to explore their relative importance. The results indicated that productivity had the largest impact on harvesting cost followed by machinery purchase price, yearly scheduled hours, and expected utilization. Productivity and fuel use, as well as fuel factors, are the most influential environmental impacts of harvesting operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Fengli & Johnson, Dana M. & Wang, Jinjiang & Yu, Chunxia, 2016. "Cost, energy use and GHG emissions for forest biomass harvesting operations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1053-1062.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:114:y:2016:i:c:p:1053-1062
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.07.086
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kannan, R. & Leong, K.C. & Osman, R. & Ho, H.K., 2007. "Life cycle energy, emissions and cost inventory of power generation technologies in Singapore," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 702-715, May.
    2. Fengli Zhang & Dana M. Johnson & Jinjiang Wang, 2015. "Life-Cycle Energy and GHG Emissions of Forest Biomass Harvest and Transport for Biofuel Production in Michigan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-14, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Petra Hlaváčková & Sheku Kemoh Mansaray & Samuel Antwi Darkwah & Iva Živělová, 2024. "Applying the European Union (EU) assessment initiative of forest sustainability in Africa: A case study of the timber harvesting impact on the environment in Sierra Leone," Journal of Forest Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(2), pages 79-90.
    2. Ye, Fei & Li, Yina & Lin, Qiang & Zhan, Yuanzhu, 2017. "Modeling of China's cassava-based bioethanol supply chain operation and coordination," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 217-228.
    3. Wang, Z.X. & Li, H.Y. & Zhang, X.F. & Wang, L.W. & Du, S. & Fang, C., 2020. "Performance analysis on a novel micro-scale combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system for domestic utilization driven by biomass energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1215-1232.
    4. Pan, Yu & Liu, Liuchen & Zhu, Tong & Zhang, Tao & Zhang, Junying, 2017. "Feasibility analysis on distributed energy system of Chongming County based on RETScreen software," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 298-306.
    5. Miriam Lettner & Pia Solt & Björn Rößiger & Daniela Pufky-Heinrich & Anna-Stiina Jääskeläinen & Peter Schwarzbauer & Franziska Hesser, 2018. "From Wood to Resin—Identifying Sustainability Levers through Hotspotting Lignin Valorisation Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Man, Yi & Li, Jigeng & Hong, Mengna & Han, Yulin, 2020. "Energy transition for the low-carbon pulp and paper industry in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).

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