Cost-effective biomass supply from orchard termination with highly-mobile low-investment equipment. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Picchi, Gianni; Pari, Luigi; Aminti, Giovanni; Spinelli, Raffaele
• Is Part Of: Biomass and bioenergy. Volume 94(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 84
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Recovery -- Productivity -- Fuel -- Energy -- Mechanization -- Quality; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biomass -- Periodicals; Energy-Generating Resources -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; 333.9539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2016.08.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-9534

Abstract

Abstract: The Authors tested a complete new system for recovering wood fuel from the termination of depleted orchards. This operation can generate between 25 and 80 fresh t ha −1, that can be directed to the growing bioenergy sector. The new system is based on highly-mobile low-investment general-purpose equipment, which allows containing operational cost and speeding relocation between work sites. The new residue collection system is quite flexible, and achieves cost-effective recovery on relatively small fields, often smaller than 1 ha. Under the conditions of the study, trees are cut, chipped and delivered at a cost between 35 and 40 € t −1 (40% water mass fraction), provided that fields are within a 20 km distance from the biomass plant. Use of a standard drum chipper results in a better product quality than if a grinders is used, as is the case for conventional orchard removal operations. Feeding the chipper with a separate loader allows a significant cost reduction, provided that the field offers at least 25 t of fresh wood. In the future, use of remote controls and electronic tethers may allow a further cost reduction, which is estimated at 15%. Highlights: Depleted industrial orchards are replaced every ca. 20 years. Orchard removal operations generate between 25 and 80 t ha −1 of fresh wood. New technology allows moving this wood to the end user at a cost below 40 € t −1 . This new technology is also effective on small plantations (≤1 ha).