Woody Biomass For Energy - University Of Kentucky

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University of KentuckyCCD HomeCCD Crop ProfilesCollege of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentWoody Biomassfor EnergyIntroductionBiomass, when used in reference to renewableenergy, is any biological (plant or animal) matterthat can be converted to electricity or fuel. Woodybiomass refers to biomass material specificallyfrom trees and shrubs. It is most often transformedto usable energy by direct combustion, eitheralone or co-fired with coal; however, efforts areunderway to develop methods to cost effectivelyconvert woody material to liquid fuels.Renewable bioenergy sources have the potentialto help extend finite supplies of fossil fuels.Woody biomass is considered to be a clean,high yielding, sustainable source of energy.Relatively minimal harvesting and processinginputs notwithstanding, woody biomass isoften regarded as “carbon neutral” becausecarbon dioxide released during combustion issequestered through the production of additionaltrees. In addition, burning wood for energyproduces fewer nitrous and sulfur emissions intothe atmosphere when compared to coal.While material for woody biomass can come frommany sources (e.g. forestry thinning operations,logging slash and residue, urban tree and shrubprunings, and waste from forest and woodrelated industries) this profilewill focus on the production oftrees specifically for bioenergy.Woody plants primarily ofinterest for dedicated energyWoody biomass stockpiled for use at an electric plant.crops are fast-growing trees which resproutafter each harvest (short rotation woody crops).Typically these planting are known as energyplantations.MarketingPotential woody biomass producers must belocated near a viable market for their products.Efficient and economical transportation tothe market outlet is critical for marketingsuccess. Producers interested in woody biomassproduction should be developing a transportationand logistics plan for delivering their product tomarket before planting. Multiyear marketingcontracts can also help guarantee a longer-termmarket for a perennial crop.Relying solely on one market outlet is a weaknessin marketing farm products and the same is truefor woody biomass. Producersshould have more than onemarket possibility for woodybiomass products.Whilewoody biomass productionAgriculture & Natural Resources Family & Consumer Sciences 4-H/Youth Development Community & Economic DevelopmentEducational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

can represent an opportunity for diversifyingthe domestic energy supply, there is currentlya very limited market for cellulosic bioenergyfeedstocks.Pilot-scale projects involvingproduction on marginal or reclaimed land arelikely to be the main market for woody biomassproducts in the near future.Market OutlookThere are currently very few large volume buyersutilizing woody biomass for energy in Kentucky.The market is developing, but it is still in itsinfancy. A current market is primarily selling tocompanies that are processing woody biomassinto pelleted products for co-firing in energyproduction. These markets are typically wellsupplied and relatively limited to new produceraccess. Proximity to reliable product sources, aswell as economic and policy requirements, arekey parts of emerging biomass markets.An opportunity is emerging in 2012 through theRecast Project in the Louisville area, a project thatwould require 75,000 to 100,000 tons of woodybiomass per year. Another biomass-processingproject in Gallatin County could also emerge in2013. Kentucky is also home to several existingbusinesses using wood by-products, includingcharcoal manufacturers, pulp and paper plantsusing woody energy sources, and hardwood floormanufacturers reclaiming wood waste into fuelpellets.Production ConsiderationsPlant selectionTwo of the most desirable characteristics of treesfor woody biomass plantations are rapid growthrate and ability to be coppiced. Coppicing is amanagement tool in which a tree is cut near groundlevel and sprouts are allowed to develop fromthe stump. This enables the tree to regeneratewithout having to be replanted after each harvest.In addition to growth rate and sproutingcapabilities, trees for biomass should be highyielding in terms of dry tons of wood producedper acre. Other desirable characteristics include:widely adaptable, vegetatively propagated,easy to establish, hardy, and disease and insecttolerant. Lignin content and wood density arealso important considerations. It is unlikelythat any one species will meet all of Kentucky’sbiomass needs. The U.S. Forest Service isurging forest geneticists to “continue to developnew tree varieties to produce woody biomassin shorter rotations while decreasing inputs andincreasing yields per acre.”1 As the biomassmarket develops, buyers may require specificgenetically improved species that have the traitsthat fit their particular operation. Below are listedsome of the trees and shrubs that have currentlybeen identified as having the greatest potentialfor use as woody biomass in Kentucky.Hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) is a general namegiven to the crosses and clones that have beendeveloped from various species of poplar andcottonwood. Among the fastest growing trees inNorth America, hybrid poplars can grow as muchas 6 to 10 feet per year. Native cottonwood hasalso been studied for use as a source of biomass.Willows (Salix spp.), particularly geneticallyimproved shrub types, have good potential forwoody biomass. Willows are easily establishedfrom unrooted cuttings and they are vigoroussprouters.American sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis) isa long-lived tree that can reach immense size.Advantages for biomass use include: mediumwood density, thin bark, and adaptability tovarious growing sites, including disturbed areas.However, susceptibility to serious disease andinsect problems may hinder its development forbiomass.Sweetgum (Liquidambar spp.) is not as fastgrowing as other biomass candidates, but it doesresprout well, is very adaptable, has mediumwood density, and is not bothered by manydiseases.

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) hasoften been successfully seeded and planted onreclaimed mine sites. It is easy to establish,grows quickly, and is a prolific sprouter.Other trees, such as silver maple (Acersaccharinum) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)have also been the subject of biomass research.There are several exotic species that have beenproposed for use in Kentucky. However, manyhave not been thoroughly tested and environmentalconcerns over potential invasiveness make theiruse suspect. Ultimately the choice of crop(s) willdepend upon market demand, as well as locationand local growing conditions.Site selection, preparation, and plantingA number of woody feedstock species are nativeto streams and bottomlands. As such, theyprefer soils that are well-drained with adequatemoisture throughout the growing season. Somespecies can be grown on marginal or spent soils;sycamore and black locust have been successfullygrown on reclaimed surface mine lands. Properlymatching the species and the soils is critical fordeveloping a successful energy plantation. Thismay be the single most important decision madein developing an energy plantation; selectingthe wrong species for the site can easily provefatal to the endeavor. Further, the use ofmarginal land, while capable of growing severalcommon biomass species, may not be able toproduce the yield necessary to make the plantingeconomically viable.Site preparation can include deep plowing,disking, harrowing, and fertilizer applications.Pre-plant weed control is generally managed withherbicides. Dormant cuttings (10 to 24 incheslong) are planted by hand or machine so thatonly the buds on the top few inches are exposed.Spacing, which is based upon the growth rate ofthe species and time between harvests, can varywidely. In order to foster sound and sustainablewoody biomass production, producers shouldfollow the Best Management Practices identifiedin the Silviculture section of their farm’sAgriculture Water Quality Plan.Some species, such as willow shrubs, may be cutback after the first year to promote the productionof multiple stems. In other cases, trees are grownas a single stem for the first harvest and thencoppiced for further harvests. For most species,re-sprouting generally declines in vigor to someextent each time trees are harvested. As a result,productivity can be lost after several rotations,at which time the plantation will need to bereestablished. Biomass trees can also be grown ina single rotation and replanted after each harvest.The length of the rotation will vary depending onthe plant species. For example willows could beharvested every 2 to 4 years, while poplars maybe allowed to grow 6 to 15 years before beingharvested.Pest managementDisease and insect pest problems will varydepending on the host. Some biomass plants, suchas sweetgum, are susceptible to very few pests.Other trees, such as sycamore and poplar, can beplagued by several debilitating disease and insectproblems. For example anthracnose can causenear complete defoliation of sycamore duringwet springs. While this disease does not killsycamore outright, repeated defoliation weakenstrees and makes them susceptible to other diseaseand insect problems; weak trees produce fewersprouts and therefore less biomass. Pesticideapplications may be necessary to manage diseaseand insect problems.Weed management is important until the canopycloses and weeds are shaded out. The mostcommon methods for controlling weeds inbiomass plantations are mechanical and chemical.Harvest and storageIssues associated with harvesting woody biomassare based upon whether the biomass will be usedfor combustion or for conversion to a liquid fuel.The most likely use will be for direct combustion

where fuel moisture content is an issue. Themoisture comes either from natural moisturein the wood (which is generally highest duringthe winter and spring) or from leaves when theentire tree is chipped during the growing season.The individual biomass market will determinewhether the wood can be harvested year roundor whether harvesting needs to be restricted.Further, there may be price premiums for biomassharvested at specific times of the year.Harvesting a hybrid poplar plantation.The equipment needed to harvest these shortrotation plantings is significantly different thanwhat is required for conventional logging inmany parts of Kentucky. Where larger material isbeing harvested (for example poplars) that mightbe harvested on 6- to 10-year cycles, mechanized“cut-to-length” tree harvesters or mechanicalfeller-bunchers can be used. Both types ofequipment are currently being used by loggersharvesting pulpwood in western Kentucky. Veryfew of these machines are in use in central andeastern Kentucky. When biomass plantings withsmall material are harvested (for example, 2- to4-year-old willow), specialized equipment isneeded. This technology exists; willows grownfor biomass in New York are being harvestedusing a cut-and-chip harvesting system based onthe New Holland forage harvester. The harvesterhas been equipped with a specially designedcutting head that can cut stems up to 6 inches indiameter. However, none of these harvesters arecurrently operational in Kentucky.Regardless of the equipment used to harvest,refer to the Kentucky Division of Forestry’spublication, Recommendations for HarvestingWoody Biomass, for sustainable harveststrategies. While this publication is mainlygeared towards harvesting biomass in naturalforests, it also contains information applicable todedicated energy plantations.Typically, harvesting energy plantations willresult in the woody material being chipped onsite and the biomass trucked immediately tomarket. Storage is a huge issue if the producerneeds to hold over the product for any lengthof time. Woody biomass is bulky and requiresconsiderable storage space. Because it must bekept dry, the storage space needs to be covered.Harvested wood (chips) may be further processedinto pellets, briquettes, or torrefied wood toimprove burning efficiency. While some of thisprocessing could potentially be completed onsite, it will generally occur at market.Labor requirementsWoody biomass production is labor- andmanagement-intensive. In this regard it is similarto the production of agricultural row crops. Asdedicated energy markets develop for woodybiomass, specialized equipment, intensive forestmanagement, and a trained labor force will beessential for profitability.Economic ConsiderationsInitial investments include land preparation andpurchase of cuttings. An additional start-upcost can include the installation of an irrigationsystem. The purchase of specialized harvestingequipment, which tends to be quite expensive,is another economic consideration. Wildlife andpest control can also present significant costs inthe production of some woody crops.Because markets are so thinly established, andbecause of the wide range of potential woody

biomass crops, per acre profitability estimatesshould be determined on a case-by-case basis.Production of woody crops could have nonfinancial economic benefits when used as part ofa whole farm plan. When grown on marginal orspent soils, woody crops can help replenish theland and increase productivity. Planting woodybiomass trees on reclaimed forest sites couldhelp restore woodlands. In addition, growingbioenergy feedstock on otherwise agriculturallyidle land would not compete with food cropproduction. Woody biomass can also be grownas windbreaks and riparian forest buffers.Selected Resources Current Research: Biofuels (CDBREC)http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CDBREC/biofuels.html Demonstrating Techniques for EstablishingWoody Biomass Plantations on Surface MineLands as Feedstocks for Energy Production(University of Kentucky, 2010) 1.63 MB, 45 20bioenergy%20final%20KOEP.pdf Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan(Kentucky Division of Conservation, aterQuality.aspx Kentucky Division of Biofuels (Energy andEnvironment t.aspx Kentucky Forest Practice Guidelines forWater Quality Management (University ofKentucky, o.pdf Recommendations for the Harvesting ofWoody Biomass (KY Division of Forestry, rvsting%20Recommendations%20Oct%202011.pdf Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network(Oak Ridge National Laboratory)https://bioenergy.ornl.gov/main.aspx Biofuels from Trees: Renewable EnergyResearch Branches Out (Oak Ridge NationalLaboratory, 1998)http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/pdfs/8515.pdf Biomass Energy Data Book, ed. 4 (OakRidge National Laboratory, 2011)http://cta.ornl.gov/bedb/download.shtml Introduction to Bioenergy: Feedstocks,Process and Products (National SustainableAgriculture Information Service-ATTRA, mmary.php?pub 342 Short Rotation Woody Crops (MississippiState University, df Short Rotation Woody Crops for Biofuel(University of Tennessee, s/Documents/SP702-C.pdf Wood 2 Energy – A State of the Science andTechnology Report (University of Tennessee,2010) 2.2 MB filehttp://www.usendowment.org/images/Wood2Energy Publication Final S.pdf Wood to Energy: Woody Biomass Basics(University of Florida, 2009)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr283 Woody Biomass for Bioenergy and Biofuelsin the United States — A Briefing Paper (USDAForest Service, hafiles/White pnw gtr825.pdfImproving Trees for the Bioenergy Market: Highlightsfrom the 31st Southern Forest Tree ImprovementConference (June 13-16, 2011)http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/improving trees.html1Reviewed by Tim Hughes and Larry Lowe, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet; and JeffStringer, University of Kentucky Forestry Extension (Issued 2012)January 2012Photos by Warren Gretz, National Renewable Energy LaboratoryFor additional information, contact your local County Extension agent

Typically these planting are known as energy plantations. Marketing Potential woody biomass producers must be located near a viable market for their products. Efficient and economical transportation to the market outlet is critical for marketing success. Producers interested in woody biomass production should be developing a transportation

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