Managing the moisture content of wood biomass for the optimisation of Ireland's transport supply strategy to bioenergy markets and competing industries

Amanda Sosa; Mauricio Acuna; Kevin McDonnell; Ger Devlin

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2015.04.032

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Managing the moisture content of wood biomass for the optimisation of Ireland's transport supply strategy to bioenergy markets and competing industries

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Managing the moisture content of wood biomass for the optimisation of Ireland's transport supply strategy to bioenergy markets and competing industries

Amanda Sosa, Mauricio Acuna, Kevin McDonnell and Ger Devlin

Energy, Vol.86, pp.354-368

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.04.032

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Abstract

biomass allocation

competing demands

spatial distribution

moisture content

transportation supply optimisation

Ireland

The aim of this study was to analyse the supply of wood biomass (short wood) to the three peat power plants in Ireland and the impacts on the competing wood-based panel industries. The methodology includes the development of a spatial decision support tool based on LP (Linear Programming). It uses drying curves to assess the moisture content, weight and energy content of biomass during a two year period planning. Harvesting, chipping, storage and transportation costs are calculated based on the biomass moisture content. The model optimally allocates woodchips and logs from thinnings and clearfells. Results show that the planned maximum 30% co-firing rate at the three peat power station could be met with the forecasted short wood availability from both the private and public sector. The costs of supply increased not only with higher demands, but also with tighter constraints on the MC demanded by power plants. Spatial distribution and operational factors such as efficiency in transportation and truck loading showed to be sensitive to changes in MC. The analysis shows the benefits of managing the MC when optimising supply chains in order to deliver biomass to energy plants in a cost-effective manner.

Details

Title: Managing the moisture content of wood biomass for the optimisation of Ireland's transport supply strategy to bioenergy markets and competing industries
Authors: Amanda Sosa (Author) - University College Dublin, Ireland
Mauricio Acuna (Author) - University of Sunshine Coast
Kevin McDonnell (Author) - University College Dublin, Ireland
Ger Devlin (Author) - University College Dublin, Ireland
Publication details: Energy, Vol.86, pp.354-368
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.04.032
ISSN: 0360-5442
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449146002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Energy & Fuels; Thermodynamics

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