01554176

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2502-13

The amount of woody biomass available for biofuel production depends on tree growth rate, harvesting techniques, harvest cost, government policies, and established traditions within the industry. Comparing estimates of biomass availability across studies is difficult because of different methodologies for estimating biomass supply, compounded by inconsistent and often unspecified assumptions. Studies differ in their definition of biomass (i.e., tree size, parts of tree) and consideration of ecological and economic factors (i.e., harvest productivity and costs, competing demand, compliance with existing regulations). In particular, existing restrictions on biomass harvesting for biofuels under the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard often are not included. Additionally, because most biomass availability studies ignore current biomass uses, an overestimation of available biomass for future uses results. Presented are new estimates for the amount of economically available biomass in Maine, taking into consideration both economic (integrated harvesting for pulp and precommercial thinning) and ecological factors. It is found that biomass availability varies greatly, depending on the relative location of the biorefinery, biomass harvesting site, and existing wood consumers (e.g., pulp mill). Indeed, harvesting and transporting woody biomass without an existing use for the high-value forest products (saw logs and pulp) probably makes woody biomass for energy production uneconomical. This finding is contrary to some existing studies and suggests that economic consideration needs greater emphasis in estimating biomass availability for biofuels.

01582849

15-4578

English

0000-0002-4793-8499

pp 108–115

2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309369237

Print

Figures (2) ; Maps; References (36) ; Tables (1)

Biomass; Biomass fuels; Ecology; Economic factors; Estimating; Policy; Supply; Supply chain management

Maine

Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 1:30PM

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