Willow Bioenergy Crops: Locally Grown Renewable

Biomass Workshop T. A. Volk SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY SURE Workshop, January 27, 2005 Overview • Objectives • Biomass Background and Drivers • Biomass Feedstocks: Production and Potential • Federal and State Policies • Biomass Terminology • Small Scale Biomass Systems • Large Scale Power Systems • Creating a Successful Wood Energy Project Objectives • Understand the drivers for biomass development and related state and federal policies • Understand terminology related to biomass in order to assess the value of different biomass sources and make basic calculations for biomass systems • Understand the potential of and important factors related to small and large scale biomass projects for heating and power production so that participants can explore these options for projects they are involved in Background and Drivers What is Biomass? • Recent organic material derived from plants or animals that is available on a renewable or recurring basis • A complex renewable resource made up of different feedstocks, conversion pathways, end products and energy forms • Can be used at a variety of different scales. (Sims 2002) Biomass Use for Energy in the U.S. (Bain and Overend, 2002) Biomass Flows in the U.S. Economy Materials Fiber pulp paper Process Residues lumber black liquor plywood cotton sawdust Consumers MSW clean fraction bark yard trimmings constr. & demolition Crops, Animals Food wood non-recyclable stalks & straws Process organics harvest residues Residues Energy bagasse forest slash Services dung heat CHP Biomass forest harvest for energy electricity short rotation woody crops herbaceous energy crops Bioenergy Biofuels charcoal ethanol Source: Overend, NREL hydrogen Range of Sizes Range of Sizes for Biomass Applications (Sims 2002) Drivers for Biomass • National security – Rising oil prices – Increasing dependency on imported oil (59% of our supply was imported in 2004) • Environmental impacts of fossil fuels – Increasing levels of CO2 – Air pollution that contributes to acid precipitation, mercury, particulates, ozone etc. Drivers for Biomass • Rural Development Opportunities – Agriculture and forestry are in decline in many areas of the country – Developing new markets and new crops for the bioenergy and bioproducts industry will help revitalize these industries – Limited transportation distances results in local fuel production, processing and conversion Benefits from Biomass • Green hardwood chips and other fuels used in heating systems in Vermont in 2003 • High end of range is retail price, low end is for wholesale price • Gross is fuel cost before combustion, net is fuel cost for useable heat output (Maker 2004) Benefits from Biomass • It is a renewable, sustainable resource • Fuel is available in large quantities across the northeast and elsewhere • Use of local, natural resources creates independence and reinforces local networking • Biomass fuel dollars and the value added from their conversion stays in the local economy Benefits from Biomass • Large or innovative projects pave the way for other projects or industries • Biomass fuel prices have historically been fairly stable • Biomass price increases will be more gradual than competing fuels Benefits from Biomass • Biomass pricing is not subject to monopolistic control • Future energy and carbon taxes should not impact biomass fuels • Low grade markets can improve opportunities for sustainable forest management Common Concerns • Higher capital and M&O costs • Biomass fuel requires more attention during operation • Attention to fuel quality is required • May have to build and maintain a local fuel supply network • Burning biomass is not as clean as natural gas • Biomass systems may require more maintenance than conventional fuel systems Biomass Feedstocks: Production and Potential Photosynthesis • Photo – to do with light • Synthesis – the linking of several parts • The process by which plants take in CO2 and water from their environment and, using energy from sunlight convert them into sugars, starches, cellulose, lignin etc. sunlight CO2 + 2H2O ([CH2O] + H2O) + O2 Photosynthesis – How much • Only about 0.02% of the suns energy that reaches the earth is fixed by terrestrial biomass • More is fixed by plankton, aquatic plants etc. • The amount of solar energy captured in biomass is seven to eight time greater than the total amount of energy used in the world Bioenergy Production Potential in 2050 Bioenergy Production Potential in 2050 (Faaj 2005) National Biomass Supply • Assessment of whether land resources in the US could sustainably produce over 1 billion tons of biomass • Enough biomass to replace about 30% of the country’s petroleum consumption National Biomass Supply • Over 1.3 billion tons from forest and agricultural land that is currently not being utilized – 368 million from forests – 998 from agricultural land Agricultural Resources • 55 million acres of cropland, idle cropland and pasture would be used for perennial bioenergy crops • Yields of corn, wheat and small grains to increase by 50% • 75% of crops residues recovered • No-till on all cropland • Manure amounts in excess of what is needed for soil improvement Forest Resources • Forest biomass excludes – forestland not accessible by roads – environmentally sensitive areas – wood harvested for conventional forest products Crop Residues Forest Residues Primary Mill Residues Secondary Mill Residues Available Biomass New York State Land CoverCover -- MilesMiles Legend 015 306090120 306090120 NYS Land Cover Water Forest 19,557,155 ac. Pasture/Hay 6,033,572 ac. Map Created for the Willow Biomass Project Row Crops 1,694,229 ac. Map Created for the Willow Biomass Project Date:Date: JuneJune 14,14, 20052005 Reducing the Price of Forest Chips Short-Rotation Woody Crops • Short-rotation woody crops are unique: – produce environmental and rural development benefits in addition to bioenergy and/or bioproducts » Riparian buffer strips » Windbreaks and living snow fences » Nutrient and waste management systems » Brownfield restoration » Phytoremediation Willow Biomass Production Cycle Three years old after Site Preparation coppice Harvest Planting One year old after coppice Coppice First year growth Early spring after coppicing Regional Background • Northeast and mid- Atlantic region was the heart of the U.S. willow basket industry through Hubbard, W. 1904. the early 1900s Regional Background • Research on SRWC begins in early 1980s • Ranged from wide spaced poplars with 10-12 year rotations to wood grass trials on one year rotations SUNY-ESF research station in Tully, • Focus shifts to willow NY. Site of original willow biomass in the mid 1980s trials in the US. Willow Research and Demonstration Sites Legend ê Active biomass ê Previous biomass ê Phytoremediation ê Willow snowfences ê Riparian buffers Why Willow? • Very high biomass production potential • Produces uniform feedstock for bioproducts • Easily established with unrooted cuttings • Resprouts vigorously after each harvest Three-year old willow in Tully, NY Why Willow? • Limited insect and pest problems • Wide range of genetic variability • Very short breeding cycle for genetic improvement Willow seedlings from breeding efforts at SUNY- ESF What Willow? • Focus is on the development of shrub type willows, not the more conspicuous tree willows • Varieties selected do not root sucker or spread easily Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) Site Preparation Planting Stock Harvesting one year old whips for planting stock 25 cm long dormant cuttings Planting Stock Production • Fertilized and irrigated dedicated nursery beds with densities of about 36,000/ha • Whip production from cutting orchards appears to lower planting stock costs by 10 - 15% • Costs range from $0.07 Harvested willow whips in – 0.15/cutting temporary storage at the Saratoga Tree Nursery Site Preparation Planting willow biomass crops into a mowed cover crop of winter rye. Cut and Chip Harvesting Systems • Harvesting occurs during the dormant season to ensure vigorous regrowth • Modified agricultural equipment is used to cut and chip willow biomass in a single pass New Holland forage harvester being tested in three year old willow in Tully, NY ! ! ! ! ! ! ! New York State ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! #! ! Wood Using Mills ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 302 Mills (1998 Survey Data) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Legend ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! " ! ! Mill Type ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Sawmill 296 ! # ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! " ! ! ! Pulp Mill 3 ! ! ! ! ! "! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! # Veneer 3 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! # ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! "! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Miles ! - 030609012015 ! ! Map Created for the Willow Biomass Project Date: June 14, 2005 Volume of Mill Residues Total Residue Fiber Misc. Fuel Byproducts Unused Mill Residues (Tons) Product Byproducts Byproducts Mill Residues - Bark 252,212.41 13,951.68 67,537.45 163,323.26 7,400.02 Mill Residues - Coarse Wood 599,253.07 201,007.03 324,384.77 60,173.54 13,687.73 Mill Residues - Fine Wood 423,681.33 2,384.53 75,305.98 338,828.28 7,162.54 Total Mill Residues 1,275,146.81 217,343.24 467,228.2 562,325.08 28,250.29 Wood Residues • Supplies vary over time depending on wood manufacturing industries • Quality control is important • Requires time and site specific assessments – 1998 NREL report estimates that 3.7 million tons are produced annually in NY (Rooney 1998)

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