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Rawmaterial Supply and Harvesting Techniques: 

Rawmaterial Supply and Harvesting Techniques Gunnar Bäck Globetrotter AB

Introduction: 

Introduction Overview of Scandinavian harvesting techniques for forest residues Residues in this context: Branches Tree tops Brushwood Stumps Small trees Non commercial small trees Presentation based on: Experts from Sweden, Finland & Denmark My own 30 years of experience in the harvesting field

Supply and usage of wood based fuels: 

Supply and usage of wood based fuels Sweden Biofuels incl. Peat account for 114 TWh of totally 637 TWh Close to 18% of total energy usage Of this wood based fuel accounts for 8% (2005) …or 25M m³ solid volume per year Finland Biofuels incl. Peat account for 97 TWh of totally 379 TWh Close to 26% of total energy usage Of this wood based fuel accounts for 10% (2005) …or 18M m³ solid volume per year

Assessment of quantities of wood fuel: 

Assessment of quantities of wood fuel Almost all forest residue (90%) is processed in conjunction with procurement of industrial wood as well as in conjunction with processing of industrial wood in sawmills and in pulp- and paper mills In Scandinavia you have a wood fuel potential of up to 45% of the amount of harvested volume for industrial purposes

Key factors in the supply chain: 

Key factors in the supply chain Normal harvesting system Almost all harvesting operations for industrial wood in Sweden and Finland are based on the fully mechanied CTL-system (Cut-To-Length) The normal harvesting system for industrial wood will as bi-products produce branches, tree tops and small delimbed stems

Key factors in the supply chain: 

Key factors in the supply chain Common features of forest residues Small dimensions on a piece basis Low value on a piece basis Low energy content in relation to fossil fuels Low density from a transport point of view Low concentration fram an area point of view Scattered availability High procurement costs on a piece basis for collection and transport High nutritional content

Key factors in the supply chain: 

Key factors in the supply chain Collection Multi functioning, accumulative felling head, which collects the cut trees Combination harvester, equipped with multi- functioning harvester head and a chipper Industrial wood Forest residue Development work

Key factors in the supply chain: 

Key factors in the supply chain Transportation Increase of load density Special bundling technology that increases the density of the load Development work

Harvesting systems: 

Harvesting systems Location of chipper/crusher At the stump At roadside or at the landing At the plant Supply chains Initial investment Productivity Production capacity Cost per produced unit

Harvesting systems: 

Harvesting systems Supply Chain 1 Harvest of industrial wood Transport of loose residuals with special forwarder Chipping in forest or at landing Supply Chain 2 Harvest of thinning material Chipping along strip road Transport to roadside of chips with special forwarder

Harvesting systems: 

Harvesting systems Supply Chain 3 Harvest of industrial wood Baling of forest residues Transport of bales with standard forwarder to landing Chipping at roadside or at plant Supply Chain 4 Harvest of industrial wood in combination machine Chipping in the stand with combination machine Transport to roadside of chips with special forwarder

Harvesting systems: 

Harvesting systems Chipping at the stump is favourable when: Forwarding distances of <250m Where chipping can not take place at plant Chipping at landing is favourable when: Forwarding distances of >250m Large chipping volumes at each landing Chipping at plant is favourable when: Large consumption of forest residues at each specific plant General experience

Conclusions: 

Conclusions The increase in prices of fossil fuels that was originated by the first Oil Crisis of the 70:ies The limited resources of oil and gas The Greenhouse effect that was a major issue in the Kyoto protocol …all lead to an increased market for bioenergy

Conclusions: 

Conclusions Wood fuels are good alternatives for replacement of parts of the consumption of fossil fuels In particular forest residues are still not utilised to a large degree The competiveness of forest residues from a pricing point of view has up to a few a years ago not been good However at present it has become an interesting alternative from an economical as well as from an environmental point of view due to the price increases of fossil fuels during the last few years

Conclusions: 

Conclusions Recent developments in the harvesting techniques for forest residues have increased the competitiveness of forest residues and we are only in the beginning of this development Forest residues are an important part of the solution of the global energy issue

Ladies and gentlemen Thank you for your attention: 

Ladies and gentlemen Thank you for your attention Gunnar Bäck Globetrotter AB