woody biomass utilization technologies: what is real now?
TRANSCRIPT
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http://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Woody Biomass Utilization
Woody Biomass Utilization Technologies:
What is real now?
Forest Guild 2010 National Meeting, Lake Tahoe, June 17 2010
Gareth J Mayhead University of California Berkeley In partnership with: USDA Forest Service Region 5
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Overview of todayPurpose:Look at some alternatives for woody biomass
utilization based on challenges and opportunities that will work today
Outline:• Logic of utilization• Key criteria• Some technologies to consider
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Overview: Value chain considerations
Resource : quality, price, availability
Transport: mode, distance, terrain
Process – Product (technology)
Transport
Market
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Woody biomass in California
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Key criteria: Raw material form is important
Every process has a raw material specification
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Value helps to move residuals
Saw log $$$$
Slash $
Pulp log $$Slash $
Pulp log $$
Slash $
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Processing small logs
Eg: 6” vs 10” diameter
• More logs to process for same output• Higher transportation costs• More handling in mill• Less valuable products• Defects have a greater impact (knots, juvenile wood etc)• Efficiency is very important
– Speed and volume
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
It behaves badly…
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Post and Pole• Low tech• Low investment (~$750k)• 10-20,000 tons/yr • Need to treat poles
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Breaking wood down into particles minimizes the impact of defects (knots, juvenile wood, insect galleries etc.)
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Creating uniformityPlywood
OSB Fiber-Plastic Composites
Engineered lumber
Densified Paper
MDF/Particleboard
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Leverage existing industry
• Existing infrastructure is an important opportunity: – Contractors– Primary processing (sawmills, veneer etc)– Powerplants– Panelboard– Pulp
– What do they pay?– Feedstock specification?– Opportunity to adapt to changing feedstock?
Infrastructure is difficult to bring back…when it is gone it is gone
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Scale
• Bulk (100,000+ ton/yr)
– A monster to feed?– Long term (~10+ years) supply
commitments required • Small-medium markets (<60,000 ton/yr)
– Less risk– Less controversial– Socially acceptable
Scale of markets vs biomass availability
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Technology
• Wood technology can do almost anything
• There are many existing proven technologies
• Even more “emerging technologies” – Carry out due diligence– Silver bullets do not exist
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Key questions to ask for any technology
• Is the technology commercially deployed (proven)?
• What is the feedstock specification?• What are the markets for the output products?• Do the economics work?• Is the process a net energy user?• Permitting requirements?• Do not rely on technology vendors for balanced
information – carry out due diligence
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Technologies and products that make sense
Chips, shavings and barkEnergy
1. Heat2. Electricity3. Pellets
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Woodchip and bark
• Hog fuel• Landscaping products (bark,
mulches, compost etc)
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Animal bedding
• Animal bedding (shavings ~$1m)• Chunk chip (cattle corrals ~$60k)
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Bio-filtration
• Ground wood as an air filter
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Heating systems
• Can be cheaper than alternatives – it is easy to calculate simple payback
• 75%+ efficient • Local market• Opportunities for public
buildings (10,000 sq ft to 1m+ sq ft)
• Air quality permitting can be an issue
• Long payback period may be a problem (5-15+ yrs)
Heating Fuel Cost Comparison (Av National Prices)
$0$5
$10$15$20$25$30$35$40$45
WoodChips
WoodPellets
NaturalGas
Electricity Propane HeatingOil
Fuel Type
$ pe
r MM
Btu
Source: US DOE Energy Information Administration, Sept 08
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Heating - cordwood
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Heating – chip based
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Biomass power• 20 MW plant provides electricity to 15-
20,000 homes• New plant construction cost = $50-60m+• Processes 160,000 tons/yr
(1BDT/MW/hour burn rate)• Biomass transported up to 50 miles• Delivered biomass valued at $15–
60/BDT• Average production cost ~ $0.07-
$0.10/kWh• Installed cost $1700-$3500 per kW• 20-30% efficient (60% + CHP)
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Smaller scale electrical generation
• 5 kW-3 MW • Emerging technologies such as gasification• Costs $5,000-10,000/kWh installed (may make
sense for off-grid areas)• Operations and maintenance (who will do this?)• Reliability• Fuel specification (can be very specific)• Is the technology proven?
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Small scale combined heat and power (CHP) NNCC 1MW steam cycle
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Gasification - Fluidyne Pacific Class
• Heat (1 MMBTU) and/or electricity• Raw material
– Wood chunks
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Densified Wood Products
Firelogs
Fuel Pellets
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Example: 40,000 ton/yr pellet facility
•100 BDT/day
•$5.5-$7m build cost
•24/7 operation
•3-5 acre site
•30-35 jobs
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Woody Biomass Utilizationhttp://ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass
Summary
• Many utilization technologies exist• Some are proven• Many are not• If a technology sounds too good to be true it
usually is• Each situation is unique• Investigate and understand your options• Find your niche
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Thank you
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