Dry matter losses and their economic significance in forest energy procurement. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Routa, Johanna; Kolström, Marja; Sikanen, Lauri
• Is Part Of: International journal of forest engineering. Volume 29:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Energy wood -- storing -- natural drying -- dry matter loss -- economic loss; Forestry engineering -- Periodicals; Génie forestier -- Périodiques; Forestry engineering; Periodicals; 634.905
• DOI: 10.1080/14942119.2018.1421332
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1913-2220

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The value chain of forest biomass for energy always includes storing of the biomass. Biomass in natural conditions is always exposed to biological processes, some of them harmful. Dry matter losses caused by biological processes, such as composting and decaying, were studied by the weight monitoring method. After defining dry matter losses as 0.07–1.52% per month for small size delimbed roundwood under study, the total amount and economic scale of losses were calculated to gain an understanding about the phenomenon from the value chain management point of view. Losses during energy wood storing may be significant even with 3–6 months of storing. With 1-year storing time, economic losses varied between 91, 000 and 373, 000 euros, if the amount stored is 100, 000 m 3 . The economic losses were 4–17% of the energy wood procurement costs, depending on the storage time, raw material and dry matter loss rate. Energy content of the storage can increase during the 12-month storage period if the dry matter losses are low, which requires careful storage management of energy wood.