TECHNICAL PAPERS
Dec 1, 1987

Wood Energy Plantation Economics in the Great Plains

Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 113, Issue 3

Abstract

Short‐rotation intensive culture (SRIC) is a method of producing wood energy feedstocks that is potentially competitive with conventional wood sources in eastern Kansas. Silver maple is used as a representative energy species to examine alternative cutting cycles and planting densities. The sensitivity of discounted average cost is also evaluated with respect to changes in biomass productivity and to changes in production and harvesting costs. The results show that SRIC wood feedstocks can be grown, harvested, and delivered at costs approaching $50/dry tonne. This cost is nearly competitive with prices of delivered wood chips from conventional forest sources in eastern Kansas.

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References

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Curtin, D. T., and Barnett, P. E. (1985). “Development of forest harvesting technology: application in short rotation intensive culture woody biomass.” Technical Report No. DOE/OR/21478‐1, Dept. of Energy, Tenn. Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, Ala., Sept.
2.
Das, S., Perlack, R. D., Barron, W. F., and Kroll, P. (1985). BIOCUT: a microcomputer‐based economic evaluation model for wood energy plantations. Report No. ORNL/TM‐9576, Oak Ridge Nat. Lab., Oak Ridge, Tenn.
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Frederick, D. J., Stokes, B. J., and Curtin, D. T. (1986). “Field trials of the Canadian biomass harvester.” Proc. of the Seventh Southern Forest Biomass Workshop, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. May.
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Go to Journal of Energy Engineering
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 113Issue 3December 1987
Pages: 92 - 101

History

Published online: Dec 1, 1987
Published in print: Dec 1987

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Authors

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Robert D. Perlack
Res. Staff, Energy Div., Oak Ridge Nat. Lab., P.O. Box X, Building 4500N, Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Wayne A. Geyer
Prof., Dept. of Forestry, Call Hall, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS 66506

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