woody biomass for bioenergy and biofuels in the united states a briefing paper pdf

Climate changs policies tht promote boonersy odvetion eo fea to greater Faure woods biomass energy eoosumpion The wand biomass Fesdstocks mos kl o be supplied at low pies eg ‘10 to $2100

ove snl Bioenergy and Biofuels

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Authors

rie M White is rscarch associate, Department of Forest Engineering, esoures and Management, Collegeof Forestry, Oregon State Universi Corvallis, OR 9733,

Published wih joint venture aeoomentbeteen the USDA Forest Servic, Paci Northsest Research Staion, Fores rots Labexatory, ad Oregon State University

Cover photo by Dave Nichols

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‘Woody biomass canbe use fee he generation oC heat eet and biofuels, In ran eats, the leehnolog fr eanverting woody biomass ino nergy has bes stashed fr decades, but seuss the price of woody biemass energy bas aot boen competitive with traditional fos fuels, bisenersy production fom woods biomass has not been widely adopted However current proections of future ene

‘use and rewable ener and climate change legislation under consideration sugusst increased use of oth forest and apriculure biomass energy inthe com decades This report provides a summary of sme a th

Inerature related othe production of woody biomas fom bioenersy with a par

\ieular fous onthe eeanomvie perspective The mest commonly disussed woody Ibomass Gedstocks are deseited along with esl of existing economic Moding studies related othe provision of biomass fom short-retation woody crops, harvest residues, and harardous-fuel rutin ffi Additional, the existing sci

‘Summary

Forests ae expected co have an important oe in climate change mitigation under ure climate change poiey: Currents mach ofthe ikea in Frese comers on the opportunity to sequester eatbon 98 pars o cap ad ade poles In adition 9 sequestering emited carbon forest resources reduce carbon emissions atthe source

in substitute fr dhe Fossil fol ure used 1 generate het, clei,

‘nd transportation Fuels Woody biomass can be use to genorte hea or lotic ity solely or in a combined heat and power (CHP) pant Asan ener feedstock

‘voady biomass can be sod alone or in combination wth eer energy sources, such as coal, The technology to convert woody biemass ta ethanol is established,

bt no commercia-sale cellulosic ethanol plants are current in operation

‘About 2 poteent ofthe energy eonsuaned snl nthe Usted States

sera from wood and wood-dervod fuck Of the renewable energy consumed {including that fren hydroelectric dam), 37 poreent i generated fom wood and svoad-derived fuels The majority of bioenergy produced Frm wood biomass ie ensued y the indasva sctor—mosly a pulp an paper mills using hea or clestricty produced onsts fom mil residues, US, Departmen af Energy baseline eooctions indicate that ood and wood:- derived fuels will scout for9 percent ofthe energy consumed in 2030 Climate changs policies tht promote boonersy odvetion eo fea to greater Faure woods biomass energy eoosumpion

The wand biomass Fesdstocks mos kl o be supplied at low pies (eg

‘10 to $2100 ze those dhat are fw eos proeuse such 36 wood in miei solid waste, milling

‘eodstock prises increas, $2519 SAN, is ikl that mone milling sides would become avilable fr encruy’ production drawn avay from existing prove- tion uses) slong with more timber harvest resides, From the most recent estimates sailable forthe United States, there are approximately H million dy tons of wood 7.1111 milling residues, and 64 million dry’ tons of forest harvest luc ptdiecd no ally, Biomass ftom shor-otaion woody erops (SRBC) and ater energs crs)

‘and agriclure residues (corm star an asks) would nh be lized for bigenergy at modaeateFoodsock pices Ac he highesfeedsock prices, above S50) ts likey that energy erops eg SRWC) and agriculture residues will po Wide de greatest amounts af bioenergy (eodlaek, At moderate ane high Feedstock prices, some small-diameter male, generated either fom hazar-ful reduction

‘x preeommersial thinning could hosome ailble for bioenergy, Revetsties hans estimated that shout 210 mili oven ay tons of smalliameter and harvest

‘ng with most aetvits in the South Central and Southeast regons The potential supply of caer eros largely miso the disibuin of existing cropland, with significant potential planation area inthe Corn Bel, Lake States and South (Centra eptons, Hazard! volumes that could be wsed for bioenergy’ are located primarily th Nes, ih some of he uretest volumes in the Pacific Cost Sates

‘ao, and Montana Acrss all wood biomass eedsocks,

Mernoantain and Great Plains regions ave the lost potential supplies

ereasod use of wood biomass for bioenergy is expected to hae some pple effects in the forest nd auicutue sectors Inereased use f mil resues for bios wll key derease thei availability for her current use eg viented strand board bark mule, and pelle fue) Forest resides recurrent left in the woods

th ease they have litle produet value and, in some management systems, they reeyele si mtriens and improve micr-elimate ste conitions Theres some evidence that for some sts, removal of harvest residues can reduce soi utients,

potential impacting Fare forest yields Widespread planing of SRWC for bo enenayfedsock or taonal fret products (ea, pulpwoad is expected wo lead 1o sme redveion in rapa aia fr trations apie prodtion, IF sprcalue yas do not increase as expected in th cong year, thị ma re

Jn some lard transfers from fest ssrculure o increase surculture production

‘There area numberof challenges to inereasng the use of woody biomass foe baenergs, Perhaps fremos, woody biomass isnt cost complitive with sisting

‘oss fel, except when generated in large quanti a a waste product This cost gap may narow under climate polices where erbon emissions haves marke,

‘value o the use of woody biomass for bioenery is promoted In addition fo the

‘sconame eanstrains there ate oreaivatona.nfasirste, and socal chal Jenges to widespread implementation of woods biomass for bioenergy The essing Frameworks forenerey plant approval and permiting donot always apply well pquoval of woody biomass plants, Ths cam make i ficult to establish plants

‘within the energy sestor fo use woods bums, There ate some concerns that the

infrastructure e, equipment and transportation stems} i nt sufficient

to support widespread generation of woody biomass, particulary fora significant expansion inthe harvesting of small mera om havard-uelredetian, Finally

‘remains amclar to wha extent the public will suppor sigieanineeases in

‘wood biomass bioefergy production, Opposition by some groups using biomass

{or bioeneray is oflea centers om the bli tha energy from wood is one technology, the goerated energy is inconvenient fr uss the fedstock i nscale

‘ni ficult obtain, and forest resources are beter used in he prodtion of caer forest products ce services

Adsiional research is nscessary to develop a beter understanding ofthe responses inthe enor, apeculure, and forest ssetors polis that would impact braenergy usage More comprehensive measurements of bath the land stable for and he willingness to plane SRIVC and other energy erops,

Fenty the potential volumes tht coukl be expected from tht resource Better

“ntification ofthe Ioeations of eutent ad potential oonersy production fil ties wil elp to identify those woods biomass resource stocks that may be in he best position fr inoreased vse Similay, a eller understanding of how [sgk

‘od and otherwise) supply cures difer by region and subregion wil be uss- {ulin ideauing te locations where wood biomass is most likely wo be use for

—

It help better

bioenersy—Renewable energy derived from biologiealsoures, to be used for hoại leerielg,r vi Ful (USDA ERS 2000),

biofuel—Liqud fuels and blending components preduccd fom biomass feed- stooks, used primal foe tansportation (US EIA, nd)

biomass—Orgenicnonfasil mater of bloga eis

energy source (US FIA, nd)

British thermal unit (BTU)—Standard unit of measur of he quantity of heat quite to aise the temperature of | Ibo liquid waver 11 the temperature at which water has its greatest density approximately 39 degrees Fahvouhei) (US FIA, nd) One hilowat-hour af eletsiety is equivalea to 3812 BTUs

«bie foot of wood—Amount of wood equivalent a sald cube measuring 12 by

12 by 12 inches (Avery and Burkhart 198%) In this pape we assume ạt there are

278 dey pounds of woody matcval LC,

coven dry ton (ODT)—A US ton 2,001, also called a short tom} of biomass

‘material with moisture remove To this paper, we assume that I od of wood ea generate 172 million BTUs, A metric to is equivalent to 102 US fr shor) tons our (TWh) —One trlion wat-hours, Often expressed as billion kWh,

‘watt Generally used within Uh context of capacity of generation or consumption Ait eteal power equal 1 ampore wader a presse of I volt wats qual 1 1746 horsepower (US EIA, nd)

\watt-hour—Electical energy unit of measute equal lỡ I wat of power supplied

to, taken from, an lectric cre steadily for I howr (US EIA.) Fspiclly used in consideration oC tho ainoun’ of eletiiy generated or consumed Olen expressed i its of 1.000 1 KW

hours Often expressed a8 | milion }—Ont milien walthours

Context for Considering Bive

General Projections of Bioenergy Production

Bioenergy Production and Carbon Policies

‘Woody Biomass Feedstocks

Short-Rotation Woody Crops

Biomass From Harvest Residues

Biomass Prom Milling Residues

Municipal and Consttuction Demolition Wastes

Biomass Prom Hazard-Fuel Reduction

Biomass Feedstock Supply Curves Modeling Studies for Specific Biomass Resources

Short-Rotation Woody Crops

Harvest and Miling Residues

Challenges to Biomass Ucilizati

cof relying on wood fr ener’ pretction, both nthe United States and in the

‘won, Many technologies eurconly being discussed for wing woody biomass

Jbrbicenery are based on processes established decades ago

Reflecting the interests of many groups for using woody Boma, the seen

life Iierature,peer-seviewed and grey on bioenergy fom biomass is extensive

hough muck ofthis information is wseul che volume of materia avaiable

makes a syihess ofthe curzen sate of knowledge desirable Some (eg BRDB

2008, Mlbrat 2005, Periack et al, 2005) have complete syheses with estimates

of availble or demanded quantities of woods biomass and agrieulure residues,

‘Tris synhsis fers rom those by its eeanomie perspective and eiance om

sono modesto quantify demands for and suppl of woods biomass, This

rept sk fers fom the ethers by, hom posible, consiering woody biomass

Within the canten of production quanies and land use changes involving both the

grculute and forest seis

The primary goal ofthis beefing pape so deserbe woody biomass fted-

‘Mocks and examine their potential use in bioenergy production in the contest of

climate change poi, Specifically, we aim to describe the anticipated wes of

biomass for eneresprodeton, detail he woods biomass feodstochs an their

potential availabilty, describe general projections of biomass use for bioenergy in

te coming decades, and report the sess of several economic modeling sudios

related to he se of woods biomass fesdstacks,

Inahe nest scion, we diseuss some past, cusren sind expected future uses of

‘wood omass for bioenergy We thea identi the bioenergy woody boas eed-

stooks and prose genera estimates of tei pena quantities based onthe exis:

ing iteratore Fllowing tha pencral deserpton, we examine a numb of steies|

that modeled ihe supply and consumption of biomass feedstocks fo bosaeryy and

tsadtional forest products We close by desenibing some ofthe noneconamic and

ontechnial challenges othe increased use of wan biomass for liosnszp\

Context for Considering Bioenergy From Woody

1, Over the same period, the amount of energy consumed from wind and biofuels has inrease, particularly inthe years since 2000,

Howser, he surreal expectation is that woody bicrnas will increasingly be the

{ocus of stand-alone processes where a east some of dhe biomass obtained

root from natural resource stocks with he primary inten of generaing bisen-

‘Woody biomass hasbeen used to proves either electricity or heat indepen-

any aswell asin combined heat and power (CHP) syst, ls efrted to as

cogeneration plants, Woody-biomase-firedhes-only operations are often and in

Europ, where centralized plants produce heat ad hot water that is distributed via

ping lo local heating distro (se Nihal al, 2009 for examples), Small-scale

hsa-only woody biomas plans have historically been used athe United States

to provide heat for desing cu lamer at sawmills ad more recent for producing

bea for schools (Niels eta, 2008) The forme operation ote ies on milling

residues and dirty wood chis, whereas the later relies om ling residues tee

1q Venho or wood stems harvested as part of hazaréfusl reduction operations

(en Montana) (Nicholls 2008), There is much intrest nthe United Stes

Sn taking svantage of significant improverat in efceney throug he use oF

CHD plants o generate enersy’ fom woody biomsss, Woods-biomass-red CHP

‘stom have been implemented in the United Stats in some insutaonal seings

Hower, a challsnge o widespread adoption by te eletiel sector of CHP pls

Srod by woody biomas isthe goneral lack i the United States of ettealized eat

‘ing dsisiats (¢g, Maker, nd} Space heating sing woods biomass in esidenil

ind small commercial buildings i peal eompleed via heat-only wood-burning

stoves operating on fuelwood harvested fom sanding timber or wood pellets made

from wood residues

Eecccy-only operations involving woody biomass ean rly soley on wood

bimas or cofte with another fuel soure I coed, wood is often combined

‘with oa Cofring woody biomass wih fuels ch as coal ean be completed wing

sisting plant technologies with only minor bara ning an offers an opportunity

o divetly substitute 2 renewable fel fr fossil fel (Bain and Overend 2012),

Additonal, plans originally designed t be fred with coal cam be converted to

boura woody biomass exsusiely a is being done with two units ofthe RE Berger

powerplant in Ohio (FistZnorgy Corporation 2009) Beletsicty plants using

modern technologies were first operated during the 14s Oregon asin ill

residues, More rece, nthe 1980s, a numberof stand-alone Wood-biomass-ced

vlssticlh plants cams imo operation in California Although there area number

oF stand-alone plans whowe the eletiiey generated ig slay input othe grid

‘Secret pnts operating in association with mber industry are more common

Of the approximately L000 wood-fired eletricty plants inthe United Stats ody

‘Woody biomass has been used to produce ithe electricity or heat independently as

‘wells in combined

heat and power systems

nosy (xothieds ae ane and opersted by the woes produits instr (Nicholls tal 2008), Much ofthe cletricty generated by industy-ow ned plants is used

‘onsite rather than contributed tothe electrical gi

{nthe United Sates in 2008, 388 billion ilowat-hours (AA (39 erat hours (FWh)) of lett: were generaed using woods biomass, Ths produeton represented about 10 percent ofthe electric produced from renewable sources (behind hydropower [67 poreent of renewable clestrcity] and wind [4 percent of | reothleelectsicity} and abou perent ofl leery prodyeed (US DOE 2009) The industrial sector aevouned for 279 blion Wh ofall woody-biomsss F1 11 11 (OF the 10.9 billion kWh of electricity progused by the

sa the United States

[Biocthano is pethaps the best known bof, Mtnal and liquid luels

competition in dean for ora for fod versus energy n 207, approximately 24 potcentof the corn aereage planed in the United States was used fr con ethanol production (BRDB 2008) Tn ation to the ompetition for od production, same hase araued thal cor ethanol isnot susinnable renewable resounee and egies

‘more enstgy to produce than i contained in ethanol eg, Pimentel et a, 2002), hough oters Farell 20051 have argued eatin that conclusion, Corn-basd edanol is considered a first-generation bof, whereas commercial scale cellulosic ethanol proleton is considered a second- generation technolo Producing ethanol fiom con o sugar eane (or other sugaritarchexeps i ss technically challenging (and thu= currently fess cost) than producing ethanol frm tignoceuose im woody materals Galbe and Zach 2002, Zerbe 2006), Curent ethanol ening capaeiy in the United States s about 88 billion gallons pee year

‘wih she marty of production achieved fom dry milling corn (BRDB 2008)

Jn 207, the United States prodiced shout 6S blion gallons (US DOE, na) and mpsted about {40 mllion gallons ofedhanol, Cellulosic ethanol ean be produced from fignocelllose under several altri techniques tat differ primarily in ici aprosch to hydrolysis e- concetated acid, dled acid, aren) mes) of te

eelulos to monomer ars (Galbe and Zachhi 2002) Acid hydrobsis has been

uso since the Oth century, whereas enymate approaches are fle che fous of

recently developed echnolages adopted in now plants ase AE Biofuels Ine 2008)

‘Conwaty (Ue preeption af some tha cuzent eats to prodice automate fuels

from wood ate nove iid foes were produce from wood in the United States

luring World War and in Germany snd Switzerland during World War Ul Zerbe

Currey, no commercialscalecellalasc ethanol plants ate operating in

the United Sites: however, several commercial demonstration plants are ur

construction orhave eeu begun intial startup Many of the demousteaion

plants are supported through funding from the US Department of Eney (DOE)

and ely ona vata of eedstocks, neadng woody biomass, n 2007, DOE

Proved uranis to support number ofeomtercal scale celllosc ethane! plant,

having a casbined planned eapactyof about 130 millon gallons of cellulosic

staal perysar(US DOE 217) Most of hes plans ate expected to bes startup

ovduetian ia the nex eouple of years, Oaly oa af 1097 demonsation plants

‘ill solely use wood brass aa feedstock (4 million gallonssear capaci),

sand 190 others (38 milion gallons ear capacity in ial will se Wood wastes

combination with thse feedstocks Onc ton of dry wood biomas will race

pqwoximaoly $95 gal of ellos ethanol (BRD 2008), At that conversion rt,

producing 20 million allonsf led ethanol would! require about 223.000

oven dry tons (od of wood biomass

Although ethanol receives much ofthe aenton, he production of methanol

Fiom wood as alo Been coasidred fe, Hokaasow and Rosell 197 Zerhe 9l)

In recent yeas others have promoted producing liquid chemicals (ncadine guid

{uss and sete pas fr enersy’ production fom Black liguor—a byproduct of

‘raft pulp production (Landy 2009), Despite lonstran interes the proction

‘oF methanal rom woody biomass has sen found 4 not be economically fficien:

(4 Hokanson an Rowsl 1972, Zerbe 1991) and naturel gos is entre sed

produes mast methanol Much ofthe black liquor byproduet is eurent used

produce heat and electricity for pulp and paper plant operations and itis yet oe

sem if pulp and paper aus will make the capital investments to put borefinery

facilis pace Although ts echnially possible to produce biodiesel fom

‘wood biomass, is generally produced fom sosbean oi

{In audion othe production of ener: woody biomass from residues or

Aisonally nanmerchantale material have heen usd in a cari oF produes, am

‘visitor information signs (hp: com) to builing materia hip FL

15 (ed ustdocumntsplaeflawi0 pd, to pedesieian bridges (pw w hein

«ot 3381 aspx tproeetID~S82), Woods biomss nse for these materials

fs generally considered in the coment of creating value-added products, reducing

‘wasc, and creating markets for currenllynonmerchantable timber, rather than in consideration of elite change, and we donot consider these product ers,

General Projections of Bioenergy Production

‘The DOE provides estimates of curren case use rom renewable sources as ell

es reference projetions ta year 2030 In 20S, abou 6 pereent 6 guadilion BTUs of the energy consuried in the United Stats ame fom renewable sources (excloing ethanol) (US DOL 20099) Farthe year 2004 fo 2008, shout 21 gual lion BTUs of this renewable energy was supplied rom woody biomass, Energy consumed from woody biomass accounted fr about 30 percent ofthe renewable neray consumed annuals, ut just about 2 percont of anual energy consupsion Irom all sarees (US DOE 2008) Renewable energy consumption excluding chal is pojete to increase to 8.4 guadillon BTUs (8 potceat of ener consumption by 2015 and to 97 quadilion BTUs (9 percent by 2030, Assuming

‘he cute share of renewable ener’ coming fon woody biomass remains state

‘woady biomass woul be the soureeof about 2 quadilin BTL of ener i

2015 and 29 quadrillon BTU of enoepy sn 2030, At preset, wood enorss eon sniplion requires about 122 millon ol of way materia! anally Gesuming

172 milion BTUs pero of wood, Ue the teferenee projection fon the DOE, pproximately 14S million od of wood wil be use fr energy in 2015 and 168 sillon ot will be used n 263,

‘The Renewable Fuss Stondard (RFS) ofthe Energy’ Independence and Seca sity Act of 2007 requires inreased reduction of ethanol, nekuing signifeal

‘expansion of advanced bof! rodvtion By 2022, the RES targets that 3 bil

on gallons of ethanol be used, ids 2 blion gallons ofthat coming inthe forme

of advanced bolls mhading a last 1 billion gallons of clllosc han Although no commercial scale production faites fr cellulosic ethanol are current in place, several should bepin inital production i the next several years

A Teast one ofthese plats (ihe Range Fuel plant in Soperten, Georgia i foeased solely on the production of celluiosic ethanol and methanal from weoty biomass

‘Ay wood biomass demanded to support the RES isin alii to tha identified shove inthe baseline DOE projections

In examining invease cellulosic chal production, de Biomass Rescarch

nd Derelopment Board (RDB) (2008) assumed conservatively that 4 billion zallons of cellolsi eno! would come rors woods materia in suppor a meet

"nạ the RES in 2022 At #9 gallons of ethanol por ad of wood using expected

tssðnolosiet his potion woud require abou 48 millon at of wood As price

9 Sod, approximate 45 percent 20 milion od of the forest resource feed

stock is espected io come fom logging residues 25 percent (1 million od) from

{hianings for azatd-Fel retin, and Li peroent (6 milion od from other fost

resouee removals for suc things a land clearing, The remner is expect to

` 111.111.1111

hat mish ihersise be so for comsentonsl wood pradution (person) The

‘jected use of 4S millon dry tons of woody teil fr eeluose ethan pro

dhevion serves asa useful baseline for expected future demand for woody materi

Ir bitusls

Congress is curenly considering a renewable eletricity standard (RES) to

Inroase the production of electri generated fom encuaDlesorces AIilosh

the proposed esislton as yt to be Soemally presented iis reasonable to expoet

{he RES would ad to a least some intease in electricity generation from wood

biomass over any baseline inoreases The DOE reference projecions for electric

(hich do no include an RES} ean provide @ projection ofthe Baslin expetaions

for Fature renewable electricity yeneration ftom biomass In 2008, proximately 43

Inlion kWh (48 TWh) of clei was generated from wood and other biomass

‘most of which was woody biomass (US DOE 29) The curent eel of electric:

‘ty prodveton i estimated to require abou 30 alion ot of woody materi

Because the majority of he woods bias lett is generate by the Fest

produets scctr, much of de material currently used to generat electri ky

‘comes from mil resides, bth woody and black liquor The DOE projects tha,

leetrctygoneration Fem wood and er biomass will netease to 81 billion

[Wh by 2105 and 218 billion kWh by 2050 i, 2), These proested Gres incade

expected expansion ofthe biomass supply fom eneray crops—inclading pore

isl grasses an energy cane-—rown on agiculre lands Assuming the shore

«of woody bows contribution to renewable eeetrivity and electricity generation

efficiency from woody biomass rensins costa, sprosimates 7 milion ol of

‘wood biomass will be demanded in 2015 and 154 milion ot of wood material in

2030 for electricity yencraionEtficeney improvements would reduce the volume

of material required, The establishment of an RES would likely tal oan increase

over this baseline

Bioenergy Production and Carbon Policies

‘The reerenesprojctions from the DOE indicse a general increase in the extent af

energy ereaod from biomass in the dzeaes ahead, Policies ind rodcing ean

on cropland and grazing land and from agriculture and forestry residues Under a policy where carbon i highly valued a $S0on in 2010 and inreasing inary 0

‘800m in 2100 and wit no carbon offset opportunites, biemass i expected to

be the soure of about 16 percent of he ener generated in the United States in 2050—appravimatly a fourfold increase aver modslod use inthe eurent period Johansson and Arar (2007) projected tha by 2050, biomass would bs the sour of| sou 30 percent ofthe encray generated—approximately sevenfold inrease fom the modeled use in the eurrent period In both future years the projected biomass use levels are approximately double those proceed by the DOE in thee reference

«as, Inthe Johansson and Avar model where carbon ha a high vale, cal uss boginsto decline dramatically in 2020 and falls out of nsegy production by 2070 I

js mportant to note that Johansson and Avar did ot inelude carbon offs, which axe likely to be an important ool for coat pwerplants to meet carbon caps under the lesation currently being considered inthe US Congress

{Changes in erop mix stl agricltral lanl uses ate expected under a sarbon

poliey The Johansson and Azar model doesnot inehide a frest sco, 50 lan use

change between forests and surculare was not modeled, Ror the ariclae soot,

carbo poliy ha ereates a carbon pigs of hetween $20 and Sita leads 8

comerson of yp to 24 millon ares of eropland to proce biomes for bioenerzy

(sansson and Aar 2007, estimated from sensitivity analysis results, At carbon

ices hisher than Sito, high-quality eran land begins tobe sed for enor

op proston, Ata SUton carbon price, about 24 milion aeres of eropand and

+ milion ares of high-quality wrazing lands would be deveted to enerey ro,

Production, At carbon prices above $15on, low-quality grazing land begins tà

be comerted to ener crap prostion, Despite having (ewer acres in ener sop

eoduetion, cropland provided most a he enor crop volume rom agviulure

lands because of higher sills, Undo te simalated eabon pole: farm pies for

ops ae projected to increase o mote than S30Nen a 2020 and to about

‘titan in 2040 Uobsnsson and Azar 2007,

Woody Biomass Feedstocks

‘Woody biomass or us in icone’ and biofuel production is generally eoasidersd

Jom the fallowing sources shoctsotaon woody crops (SRIWC), residues om tin Bjomass products that bor harvests that would typically be let ensit (either dispersed or in pile) residues are low-cost or no-cost From the milling process thal mayor may no acady be used moter processes, to procure ave already

‘vaste wood and yard dobriscollcted via municipal solid waste ssstems timber widely used forthe resources that could be harvested fo tks products fe, sa Togs or pulpwood), production of energy oF

nd tems thal ae eurrenily considered nammerchanable ining thos that other wood products

‘could be harvested inthe couts o fest management seit

‘Same woods biomass materials are avatlale tthe bisenegy production

process cost fice oF a very low cast Inthe case ofa few woody biomass led:

stocks, heir use forbioenerey may avoid disposl costs aided wast hang

cots), Otho biomass materials ae avaiable to the bioeneegy production processes

only procured and ranspote Those biomass products that ar low-cost ot

no-cost to procure (eg, niling residues, blak liquor are alendy widely used For

the production of ener fneluding through wood pees or eer wood products

(45, oriented strand board, back mle) Other Forms of Woedy hionae expente

to procure (eg, nonmerchanable stems) or that are curren not widely produced

(eg, SRWC) might become widely used only after addtional investment in eit

rodielon(eg edensve lanins of SEAVC).ineressd iel ncrasod prices of Fossil ues, andi nereased support fr bioenery predation

Foor“iypes of sais have typically been reported in wood biomass studies competed date Some stndles fg, Milirandt 2005) report al or ncay allo the quan of wey biomass a5 “potentially aylale.” Other sides eg Posack ot al 2005}, epee the amount of biomass thai "Yecniealy sve

ni could be used This has generals been accomplished by aplsing a perce

‘ge factor, representing the amount of biomass that is expected to be recoverable using current or expected echnolng, ta the potentially avilable quantity of woody Tnomsss smaller numberof sadies hae quaatied the amount of wood biomass that could be avslale a given market pice fe BRDB 2008, Walsh etal, 2003), Finally, aw studies have estimated a supply curve, a schedule of supplied quan lies over range of prices, for woody biomass e Ga 2007, Walsh ea 2000,

‘Tn sarous places inthis report, we rely on each ype of availabilty” and make aa fort differentiate these types forthe reader

Short-Rotation Woody Crops

‘Shortetation woods crops ae tee tops stow on short rations, ey pcally with

‘move intensive masagerent sha timbor plantains, All ofthe sti deseo hore considered SRIWC grown strily on agriculture and However is possible hat SRIVC could be plated on land even i rest plantations oF naturals regenerated forests The ue species most comealy considered as SRWC are sbi poplars opal spp}and willow (Sa spp }—although sycamore (Pla

‘i 5 and slvr maple (Acer soecharinun L) have als been considered Tashan 1998) Shortzaton woods erops se on component of a ager group of plotings

‘known as energy erops, whic also include the perennials switchgrass (Pani rgocun Land energy cane thigh sugar varieties of

both of which are also typically planed on agriculture land In addon ta ho potential use fr bioenergy and biol, SRIWC ean also be used Ta ply and paper

m1 peodugion and sawtinbsr(Rincbot 1090, Santo st al 2012) Inthe 1970s oi embargo, SRWC were considered as a pon bine! source Stanton eta 2042), During mos of te pri snes then an until recent yeas, the primary int SRINC has been a a quiek-prowing bia BÌd nhe supp$ (san 598)

Rotation lengths for SAWC range fon abou 60 12 yeas lihoush the cam

be shorter G years, Adegbidi et 2001 the materials sold fr bioener

1 1

As wit Unb harvest o forestland, mile produes est be derived From harvesid SRWC stands, with stems bing used for clean chips for pulp and paper alin and other tesiduos bong Sold for energy Schum 2006}, Some studies

Stanion ets 2002) if sold fr sawn

hime assumed tat 28 percent ofthe material harvested fom SRWWC stands (oa

bark and small nbs) canbe so Fr energy wih the romainder going to higher

‘ald product (eq, MeCarl etal 20), Harvested SRWC stan en be regener

tel va stump coppicing or pasting of mew cuttings Stamp coppicing reduces

the cos ofreysneration, bul eoppcing can add labor costs wen thing of he

coppice sprouts is required, Regeneration through stamp coppicing also requires

allen harvest iing and ean rest in missed oppoctuntes ote advantage

of genetic improvements new planing sock (Stanton etal 2002, Tashan 1998),

CCoppieerogeneraion is mare common when the sland wil be ervested or boen

production (eg, Adegbid tal 2000, Coppiced willow may nay be thề

most popular emp for boonersy prution under low-price bioenergy feedstock

scenarios (nee and Moiseyev 2002),

SRWC seteage—

“The numberof ares en

{he total areaye is not extensive (Tuskan 1998 Inge (2009) estimated tat oss dan

(01 percent ofthe privacy onned agriculture and fret land bases curently dedi

aod 1 SRC poplar plantations, Zalesry (200), ting the work af Eaton 2007,

reports approximately 152,000 ae of hsbrid poplar curently planted in te United

States Hy poplars planted on approsimatey 0,000 a nthe Pacific North

‘sest—forpulpnood and sastiborpraduction-—tStanion etal 2002) ado aboot

£6,000 ae in Minnesota fr both palpwood and enery production Shoeoaton

‘woody erops have also beem planted in the South (Tashan 98) and the Northeast

Cincoding willow for bioclecticiy production) (Adegbidi tal 200) Is expected

that expansion ofthe matt for bioenersy feedstocks would support snifcan

expansion of RWC aereage on marginal to good agrieukure ands (Wright ỉ

1992) lige (2000) astmed that shout 178 million acts of eropland was

plysially suitable fr plating SRWC, mostly in the Corm Bll, Lake States, and

Sovth Cental sates able,

ry plated in SRIWC 01 deintively know, although

Table cropland suitabie for

short aation woody crop planting

12008, approximately

.46 ilion cubic fot of

harvest residues were

‘elds fom fybrid poplar planed fr bivenergy of 3 10 5 dry tons pe acte a the ime a harvest, Under a management regime aimed primarily at use SRWC [br pulpvood production, tem dense of G0 toes po are yielded 28 0 5 dry {ons pe are ofelean chips for pulpwood and an aiional 10 to 1S dry tons of Ait chips for bioenergy production, In dhe Paitic Northwest, y brid poplar grown forsale production estimated to xi upto 12 ry tons er ae of chips fo energy production atthe nse of harvest Stanton eta 20

Biomass From Harvest Residues Harvest sides are dhe unused portions of growing-stosk woos, ops, fms, stems, and stump) that are eat or ile by harvesting operations and curently Jeflonsite Sri eal 2009} Harvest resis may be eh distributed aeross the harvesting site or may be pled, fn some managements stems, harvest esiducs

te mulehed (the South and on gente slopes i the Wes or bared ia the Pacific Norwest) whereas in oter systems the residues are le distributed duoughout de harvest site wo naturals decay In 2006, spproimatly 46 billion clbe feet of harvest residues were generated (Smith et a 2009), The reported

‘volume of harvest residues has hoe increasing since the 19805 (Smith eal 20) however, this increase is ntuence tot ast some evn hy changes in soporte Sng an sampling stems In adi othe sides Fam hạrtoding ppertians some studies (¢ Perlack eal 2005) aso consider the resiuegonerated in “other removals" whic include forest harvests conducted fo atv ies ike land clearing sind procrmmercial hinnings.In.2000, there was approximately 1.6 billion cube Feet of woods material in “other removal” (Smith el, 200,

Assuming 278 dy pourds of material por enbic foot, the harvest esiducs in

2006 amount o about 64 million dry cons of eu or killed mata et on harvest sites Only portion ofthis material would he avalble fr use in the production of bigenergs 0 bowel given eueret techuology and cst of handing and ranspert

1 thei report, Perlick tal, 2005) assum that twas tsnicall essbe to remove about 65 poreant of harvest esd, equating Lo about 2 willon dey tons

of resd in 2006, The spatial distribution of harvest residues in he Uinta Slats

senslly ellos the spatial distribution of harvests, with the South 2.3 billion

bie fot) andthe North (13 billion cube fet) accounting forthe majority ofthe

residue goncrated (ig 3)

Harvest residues regional availability—

‘The amount of harvest residucs that are economically avaiable le than the

mount echniealy available (measured in Perack etal 2008), With the goal of ro-

«deing 4 billion gallons of cellulosic chanol fom a combination of woody bom

feedstocks BRDB (2008) estimated that about 20 milion dy tons of forest residues

‘would be supplid annually from nontederaltimbsslands ata roadside price oF $44

per dry ton, Counties i the southern Delta resin, the Northeast along the Pacific

(Coast, and in the northern Lake States were projected o ave the greatest quanliies

of forest biomass suplicd (BRDB 2008) Counts inthe Mountain West would

have the las forest residue supplied

Repionaly, the Northeast and te hardwood procing areas of he upper

‘Midwest would seam to have the greatest opportunity fr increased use of timber

harvest residues given the eurrem volume generated per harvest are al else being qual However, the South generates the greatest volumes of residue ow ng to high harvesting rates, The predominanes of coa/-red powerplants in the East may’ offer

‘opportunities to cate harvest vesidue woody bunts, The existing infrastrscture

7 1111111111 soe pans of(he Midase tin bệ call st ft estaishment of harvest esiduc Feedstock use in that region

‘One uncertainty for the Northeast and Midwest in regard to expanding harvest residue use for bioenergy is any signlfcat silts in Forest species composition in espouse oelimate change, There sth pent that eiats change may est

‘in the movement north to Canada of hardwood species and a northwatd prog sion of Southern US, softnood species Timber harvests involving sftwonds tend

to generate fewer resis than haves involving edwoods (Smith ets 2009), Forthormore, the amount of esduss generated and If onsite in softwood harvest

‘ng operatins has declined over he lst several decades (Smith etl 2009% The Ineressed wilizaton of harvested softwood reflects both technologie improves rents in softwood harvesbing systems a8 well a additions markets er sflcod biomass, AC the same time, the volume of softwood harvested nationally hasbeen declining singe about 1976, Handwoud harvests have declined in ecent peri but

se sil yeater than 1976 and 1986 voles (Sith eta, 200,

Harvest residues, harvest site implieations—

In management systoms where harvest esidacs have taal Been lel onsite,

‘moving all harvest residues ean hate npliekioss lv all sts an si! caybon This ean lead to reduction in tee growth in subsequent rotations fg

‘Walmsley ta 2009), However, the impact of whole-tee harvest on sit mre

an growth inthe second rotation i highly earisble and likely site specie (Carter

‘tal 2006, Walmsley eta 2000),Henioval of loging residues fe to widespsad reductions in future timber elds, timber supplies eld decline eng

neeseed stmpage pres and inberland vals, ll ele being equal, Allerate managers may choose to use fertilizer to augment available soil nutrients om areas whore louging esues have beew removed This may lead to inercased ferlize

ss which might have plications fr greens gos emissions and water qua sty Ultimately, the widespcad impact, Fan, os general shi to removing lo sing resides fom harvesting oper

‘moniiocing i the future One potential bene fom whole-sce harvesting is hat can reduce ste preparation costs for subsequent timber rotations (Westbrook etal 2007),

ions i thn ad won roi eae

Biomass From Ming Residues

Milling residues include wases from stl, slabs and eden, bark, vonecr chip

pings and black liquor (Rinebolt 1996) In 2006, woody biomass milling resides from primary wood processing mills amounted to approximately 87 milion dry

toas of material (Smith et al 2009) This is up sigh’ from the #8 million dry tons

‘of milling reside generated in 2001 (Sm etl 2003) Black har prodetion

‘snot considered here: Reflctng thee low cost of procurement or avoided cost,

‘of disposal) neat all milling resiaes—shout 86 milion dry tons—ae currently

sod in production of other produto bioenergy: This pattern of use continues a

practice in plaes since about 1986 (Rinsbol 196) In 2006, nary equal amounts

of residues (36 milion dry tons) were used fr energy production and fiber products

‘wth an ational 13 million dry tons used fr other poduets (Smith ea 20,

slacks al 2005, Risbalt 1996) sugeeded th silability of milling resides inthe Future assuming inreased timber mil

eovduetion (6, in esponse to ayant thinng), However, this sms to ignore

the pattern of ineceating eficeny in mber mill reduction practices over past

decades, which has been projected to comtnucin the fature (hog 2007) Kf obust

marks for wood biomass fr bioenerey-and biofuel develop i the fare the

Asivered prices for woody biomass could draw some miling

production of other product to biocnery and biofuel preduction This would ikely

ther lead t atleast shor-erm inreases in the costs of products eurrenily produced

from mili residues

Mil resides, regional availability —

‘The South Cental an Nostheast regions hays the geatest volume of milling

residues not ete used fig) Most of his unused residue si he frm of |

slabs es (.¢, come materia, This could be Fortous, as the

‘orthast senertes significant stnount of lets from coal and would likes

lame an opportunity to espa eofcing of wood tesducs with coal, However, even

Jn the South Cenirl and Nertheast regions the aroun of unused resi

‘Woody biomars supplied fom SRWC may offer geete long-term opportuaity foe

coring woods biomass with coal than do milling residues,

Mill resides, secondary wood product faiiies—

‘lil esives eresod at secondary wood product manutaeturing faiiies (eg ca

Inet preduction furniture makers) ae another mil residue source Unfrtunaly

{he amount of woody mara aaa Hom secondary wood processing industries

'sifielt to ascertsin, Nilbrandt 200) estimated approsimately$ milion tons

of woody resus are generated annually from secondary wood prodect rms, là

Reflecting their low cost of procurement, nearly all milling residues are currently used in production

of other products oF bioenergy

6

‘wood material Further, asthe secondary wood products manufeetring industry continues to contract (Quesada and G70 2006), the anount of residue available will ike also decline Uhimately, secondary wood product esidaeis perhaps best characterized asa niche sours af wand iomass Fr bioenergy and biofuel produc

‘ion in some locales

‘Municipal and Construction/Demolition Wastes

‘Wood and paperboard ina varisty of consumer products re discarded as municipal solid waste (MSW) A portion ofthat wast is recovered for oesling or aor uses, and the remainder is generally discarded into landfills In MSW, wood biomass

«can be found in paperboard and paper wast, dsearded wood products such as Furniture durable goods crates and packaging and in yard trimmings In 2007, the United States generated approximately 83 million tons of pape and papes= board—S45 percent (48 milion tons ofthis was recovered fr reycling a ther

ssos (US EPA 2008), Crags hoses mse up the sretet single component of

the paper and papesoatd waste seam and flr newspapers, the highest ate of

product recovery: The generation of poper and paperboard waste has Hatened in

recent years after a decades-long inerese, Over the sae period, the rae of ree

sy ofthis waste has continued te increase (US EPA 2008}, Discarded wood in far

niu, durable goods, and wood packaging amounted 19H 2 million tons in 2007

A estimated 13 milion tons of discarded wood from pallets was recovered for

sch things as mulch and animal bedding, Yard wastes ve diicul to messue, bat

Aispsal is blieved to have declined from highs nthe eal 1980s in response to

legislation limiting yard waste disposal i landils (US EPA 2008) In 2007 about 6

rillion tans of rush and leaves were sensrted but nal covered frm yard debris

‘eludiag pap and paperboard, approsinataly S7 millon was of wood biomass

‘surrently discarded and not entonly recovered, Exchaling paper stl paperboard

sppreximately 19 million tos of wood i nt reeoered from the MSWV sugam Tá

both stances one could expect that ony portion of his maria recoverable

focus in the production of bioenergy and bal

{hat aporenimatel 77 milion ons ‘Im adition to that contained in MSW, discarded solid wood is potetially availe of slid wood was available from MSW

ble inthe debris eeated from building construction and demain Between 20

ind 30 powcont of coastueton and demolition debris is estimated tobe solid wood

rovhls ¢ dimension lumber, wood doors and Hooring wood shingles) (US

EPA 2000), n 2008, approximately 164 million (ons of debris masral was created

from construction and demotion (US EPA 2109), Assuming 28 percent ofthat

material 95 Wood, approsinataly A milion ts of wood waste was created om

canstrudion and demeldiep in 2003, This is very similar oa previous es

39 millon tons of debris wood in 2002 fom MeKeever (2008), McKeever 2004)

Potlack ot al, 2008) estimated

has estimated that approximately 80 person of constriction and demlition wood

‘west is potentially recoverable or currently recovered, Assuming this percentage,

len 20 milion tons of wood was aaiabe from constrain a demolition

dbus in 2003,

Biomass From Hazard-Fuel Reduction

‘Much ofthe material on public and priate frets identified as avestacked oa

high sk ire because of sand conditions is small-iameer mara for whieh

here curently marker With mo market fr his prevomamerial material,

‘heres limited opportunity te fst the cots of thinning hss

Withee

‘nercal material in hazards eatments as woody material fedsioek fr binen=

forested stands eed

onto bioenergy here is mach interest in using the precom-

‘ry and biofuel production x, WGA 2006), The focus of hazatd-fel etme

a

The majority ofthe

Js the Western United Sats, and Sho al (2006, 2008) dented approximately

24 million ates in the 12 Western lates on all ownership types as pss sites for reatment This acreage Rue compares well wit th

terand in 15 Western Staes likely to need meetanical fel tetment as denied

by Rummer a sl (2008),

28 milion ates of in

Hazard fact reduction, potential biomass—

‘Skog el 2006, 2008 simulted both even thinning opera tions The uneven-ge scenarios included to aimed at achieving high sraseral Airs in the rmmaining tnd an aimed a achieving inte structural

de nhe romsining stand Inthe eveh-age seenrio, lems i 9 sarily

of diameters were romaved nthe evereageseenaries, larger diameter stoms were removed only if all smaller amcer stems had bssn emoved (hin from bela)

‘No diameter limis were included inthe seenarios, Some seenarios ha lint on the amount of bash ae tha eal he removed in he thing la al ase, seres

‘were deemed treatable only ifthey would provide 300 of por acre—a akin thot is olin considered the minimusn necessary old nt revenue (Sha eta 2006, 3009),

Scenario that eat ares using an uneven-age management thinning regime slimed a usiotaining high structural diversity’ and coniinin no limits on basal aca removed yielded the preatet umber of acres reatable—I' million ares inl mera emoved-—27 million oat (Skog et al, 2006, 2008) An even-age

of oe fenibe on about 7.3 million aces, yielding about 190 milion ot of material Fewer ares ae reat+

rhantable material

{hinning fro below with no Bal aca limits esti

ble unde th ven-age regime because lesser amouns of merchantable material

‘would be generated in he teat, making thi regime feasible only under limited conto In he unexen-age management reyime aboot 28 percent of the removed

‘matril would come fom California inberlands i 5) Orego, Idaho, and Montana timberland each would secount for an aditional 13 percent of romoved imate, The remaining approximately 25 percent of material would come mostly from Washington, Colorado, and New Mevice

Wostwide across ll seenasios he majority (approximately $8 peteeat) ofthe simalstd removed biomass matorial rom havand-tuelreetion is associated with

‘amber on national forest (Skog tal, 2006, 2008), Under an example uneven aus thinning regime aimed a achieving limited structural diversity and wih a basal

‘ea limi, pewatly owned lands would contribute approximately 32 percent of removed biomass (122 millon edt of merchantable ard nonmerchanable material}

‘able 2) OF the privae tesla in Western Staos, those in California would con

be thế greatest sole 0 milion od of thinned mitral under this thinning

ime, The contribution of malta fom private tinbglands would be lowest ess

{amt million odin Ariza, Nevada, New Mevio, South Dakots, Utah, hd

‘Wyoming because of small reas of tibeeand i hose sates

An uneven-age thinning egime without basal area iis and promoting high

stevctral diversity would yield shoot 9 odt por acre of ma

than 7 inches in diameter and from the branches an ops of lems wsed Fx igher

‘vale products (Shog et al 2006) This materia is mos likes tobe used forbes

‘rey production Tretment onal 178 million acres where this unesen-age thinning

vime is feasible would yet abou 166 milion od af sal wood materi, The

Lhinning-from-below even-age eine would yield apywosimatey Ie pe se

125 and tops of|

stems used for higher value produc Skog ta 2006), Ill 73 millon even

Aasibleaees were cated, about $0 million od of small woody material could be

aebsled lv bo eases tis unlikely that ll of his materi would he harvested

face Assuming operations occur evenly or approimaty 20 yeas (Le, 2010.0

2030) with no retreatment, sou 83 millon ol cou he remove per vear under

‘he Frmcrsecaario and 4 million od pe year unde he lar seenari This sa

‘Table 2—Volume of material moved under a simulated unevon-age hazard fuel thinning regime by tmberand ownership ype

atonal Other State and

lion oven dry ome a

Prac et al (2005) reported that 49 million dry tons of woody biomass could

be generated fom iberland unough hazards harvest hen hoạl the county anally Petlack ea estimate an aditional 11 million dey tons alle fom Forest land Hands nt productive enough tobe elassifed a timberland) anc ally, The vast majority ofthis volume is expoetd io be generate i the Western Sates The resus af the te studies provide good sdcboards on likely woody biomass availability, Tho stad by Peack et 2008) contains a any bel setof assumptions on likely treatable acres and generated volume, Skog etl (2096) adopted a ily stringoat set oF assumptions on uealable ates, eluding the requirement of producing at eat

‘oF Shog ea, 2006) holy provide a more easonabe estimate of the potential production from hacan-uel thinning This is paticulr' trae he short ran whore institadons are no in place to support wiespread hazard-eduton thin hing, markets currently support nly nw prices for bioenergy cis, a dere are 2 number of social obsacest thin

‘The results rported in Shag ta (200, 2008) are consistent with he analsis {invalving many ofthe same auors tepeted bụ the Weston Governors Associa tion on forest biomass availabilty (WGA 2006) In that analysis, 106 millon ares

of ester timberland i availabe fo havard fe eduetion siding 270 lio

1 of merchantable material The esis

far bioenerey