Economics of forest biomass for bioenergy: potential site preparation savings from coarse woody harvesting residue removal in a short-rotation Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) plantation

Martin Strandgard; Mathieu Béland

doi:10.3897/silvabalcanica.22.e58636

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Economics of forest biomass for bioenergy: potential site preparation savings from coarse woody harvesting residue removal in a short-rotation Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) plantation

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Economics of forest biomass for bioenergy: potential site preparation savings from coarse woody harvesting residue removal in a short-rotation Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) plantation

Martin Strandgard and Mathieu Béland

Silva Balcanica, Vol.22(1), pp.45-55

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/silvabalcanica.22.e58636

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Abstract

Biofuel

Eucalyptus globulus

excavator

plough

site preparation

skidder

windrow

The study used time studies and cost analysis to assess potential economic benefits from site preparation cost reductions resulting from producing coarse woody harvesting residue (CWHR) for bioenergy. In contrast, previous studies have predominantly used anecdotal estimates of site preparation costs.The study was performed in a recently clearfelled 15-year-old plantation of Eucalyptus globulus (Labill) in Tasmania, Australia. The study area consisted of the control area (0.51 ha), containing ~35 m3 ha-1 of CWHR and the CWHR harvest area (2.47 ha), containing ≤12 m3 ha-1 of CWHR. The control area had been harvested with a harvester - forwarder system, which left all harvesting residue (HR) onsite, where-as the CWHR harvest area had been harvested with a feller-buncher - skidder - processor system which removed most of the HR. The latter site was used to simulate an area where CWHR had been harvested. The study examined productivities and costs of machines performing site preparation in each area. The preparation of the control area site was performed with an excavator that windrowed CWHR, fol-lowed by a skidder-mounted plough constructing planting furrows. Residual CWHR post-windrowing was <1 m3 ha-1. Productivities and costs were 0.53 ha PMH0-1 and AUD$319 ha-1 for the excavator and 1.1 ha PMH0-1 and AUD$139 PMH0-1 for the skidder-mounted plough. The excavator was not required in the CWHR harvest area. In this area, skidder-mounted plough productivity and cost were 1.16 ha PMH0-1 and AUD$109 ha-1 suggesting CWHR reduction to ≤12 m3 ha-1 could reduce site preparation costs by AUD$319 ha-1. Further studies on costs and revenues associated with CWHR removal and sale are required to determine net economic benefits and determine excavator cost and productivity for a range of CWHR quantities.

Details

Title: Economics of forest biomass for bioenergy: potential site preparation savings from coarse woody harvesting residue removal in a short-rotation Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) plantation
Authors: Martin Strandgard (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research Centre
Mathieu Béland (Author) - Nature Quebec
Publication details: Silva Balcanica, Vol.22(1), pp.45-55
Publisher: Bulgarska Akademiya na Naukite - Forest Research Institute
Date published: 2021
DOI: 10.3897/silvabalcanica.22.e58636
ISSN: 1311-8706
Copyright note: Copyright (c) Martin Strandgard. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99518607502621
Output Type: Journal article

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