Ensuring Forest Sustainability in the Development of Wood Bioenergy in the U.S. Pocantico Conference Center Rockefeller Brothers Fund Tarrytown, NY September 17 – 19, 2007

The Spectrum of Wood-Based Bioenergy Technologies: New:New: –Bio-refinery Not-So-New:Not-So-New: –Combined Heat and Power –Co-generation –Gasification –Pelletization EmergentEmergent –Bio-refinery

About Biomass Energy Three major biomass energy technology applications.Three major biomass energy technology applications. –Biofuels: Converting biomass into liquid fuels for transporation. –Biopower: Burning biomass directly, or converting into a gaseous fuel or oil, to generate electricity. –Bioproducts: Converting biomass into chemicals to make products typically made from petroleum. Renewable Energy Access.com

Southern Forest Critical Part of the Solution to The National Energy ChallengeCritical Part of the Solution to The National Energy Challenge –Massive resource base million acres –Mostly private ownership –Well established harvesting infrastructure in association with the wood products industry –Demonstrated sustainable production –Environmental safeguards --- mostly non regulatory

Woody Biomass Issues and Opportunities Facing the South Currently producing 60% US timber supplyCurrently producing 60% US timber supply Many rural communitiesMany rural communities –Richly endowed with forest resources, –heavily depended on forestry, –socially and economically disadvantaged Recent setback in pulpwood marketsRecent setback in pulpwood markets Urgent need to diversify timber marketsUrgent need to diversify timber markets

Issues and Opportunities (cont.) Potentially large volume of underutilized materialPotentially large volume of underutilized material –Harvest residues –Small diameter, dense stands –Stands posing high fire risk –Growth exceeds drain approximately 1.2 – 1.0 –Sanitation and salvage (storms, I&D) Bioenergy and biobased products timely and viableBioenergy and biobased products timely and viable

The Southern Woody Biomass Processing Situation Combustion Technologies --- especially Combined Heat and Power and Co-generation within the Forest Products Industry very well established.Combustion Technologies --- especially Combined Heat and Power and Co-generation within the Forest Products Industry very well established. Co-generation in electric power industry less well established.Co-generation in electric power industry less well established. Biorefinery Technologies emergingBiorefinery Technologies emerging Animal based biodiesel more in vogue than cellulosic fuelsAnimal based biodiesel more in vogue than cellulosic fuels

Combined Heat and Power Examples Most advanced use of woody fuels is mill waste (99% already utilized --- levels of efficiency in processing facilities reported to be quite high)Most advanced use of woody fuels is mill waste (99% already utilized --- levels of efficiency in processing facilities reported to be quite high) Langdale Industries --- GeorgiaLangdale Industries --- Georgia Laurel Lumber – MSLaurel Lumber – MS Jack Daniels - TNJack Daniels - TN Craven County --- North CarolinaCraven County --- North Carolina

Wood Co-Firing Examples Southern Company/ Alabama Power, ALSouthern Company/ Alabama Power, AL Okeelanta --- FloridaOkeelanta --- Florida Santee Cooper --- South CarolinaSantee Cooper --- South Carolina Campbellsville, KYCampbellsville, KY

Wood Pellet Plant Examples 21 Southern Wood Pellet Plants21 Southern Wood Pellet Plants –Dixie Pellets --- Alabama –Green Circle Bioenergy --- Florida –Appling County Pellets --- Georgia –Fram Renewable Fuels --- Georgia –Anderson Hardwood Pellets --- Kentucky –CKS Energy --- Mississippi –Northcut Wood Products --- Texas

Wood Ethanol Examples Demonstration Cellulosic Plant --- Univ. FLDemonstration Cellulosic Plant --- Univ. FL Range Fuels --- GeorgiaRange Fuels --- Georgia

Sources of Woody Biomass Logging residuesLogging residues Thinnings and other stand improvement operationsThinnings and other stand improvement operations Underutilized speciesUnderutilized species Stands severely damaged by climatic events, fires, insect or diseaseStands severely damaged by climatic events, fires, insect or disease Bioenergy plantationsBioenergy plantations

Harvest Volumes 9 Billion Cubic Feet9 Billion Cubic Feet –6.4 billion softwood 1.4 billion - timber harvesting residues1.4 billion - timber harvesting residues –2.6 billion hardwoods 1.5 billion timber harvesting residues1.5 billion timber harvesting residues

Sustainability Issues Most advanced use of woody fuels is mill waste (99% already utilized --- levels of efficiency in processing facilities reported to be quite high)Most advanced use of woody fuels is mill waste (99% already utilized --- levels of efficiency in processing facilities reported to be quite high) Timber Harvesting Residues --- Low hanging fruit million dry tons available at 65% recovery level)Timber Harvesting Residues --- Low hanging fruit million dry tons available at 65% recovery level) –Harvesting conducted under BMP, State Forest Practice, and Certification Rules/Guidelines --- Mostly Non-Regulatory

Timber Harvesting Residues Easier when using even-aged silvicultural prescriptions -- - example clearcutting.Easier when using even-aged silvicultural prescriptions -- - example clearcutting. –Whole tree vs. log harvesting followed by residue collection –Transpiration drying May be less feasible and profitable with uneven-aged silvicultural systems --- example single-tree selection.May be less feasible and profitable with uneven-aged silvicultural systems --- example single-tree selection. –Group selection is an intermediate option

Sustainability Issues (cont.) 2 nd most abundant sources --- material currently labeled non-commercial and often associated with unmanaged stands2 nd most abundant sources --- material currently labeled non-commercial and often associated with unmanaged stands 3 rd source --- underutilized material --- growth exceeds drain3 rd source --- underutilized material --- growth exceeds drain Product switch --- pulpwood to bioenergyProduct switch --- pulpwood to bioenergy Debris associated with disastersDebris associated with disasters

Potential Benefits to Landowners for Forest Biomass/Bioenergy Production Revenue from biomass salesRevenue from biomass sales Savings on site preparation costs in forest regeneration (removal of logging residues)Savings on site preparation costs in forest regeneration (removal of logging residues) Reduction in the risk of wildfire and disease/pest outbreaksReduction in the risk of wildfire and disease/pest outbreaks Opportunity for stand improvement and restoration of damaged standsOpportunity for stand improvement and restoration of damaged stands Potential carbon creditsPotential carbon credits Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Potential Disadvantages of Residue Removal Removal of nutrientsRemoval of nutrients –Returning ash is often advocated. –Retaining leaves and twigs reduces nutrient removals Biological diversity and habitat issuesBiological diversity and habitat issues –Can be affected by management Erosion and sedimentationErosion and sedimentation –Site specific; minimize through planning etc Damage to advanced regenerationDamage to advanced regeneration

Research/Technology Transfer Challenges Ensuring highest and best use of woody feedstocksEnsuring highest and best use of woody feedstocks Engineering --- EfficienciesEngineering --- Efficiencies Natural ResourceNatural Resource –Little to no direct incentive(s) for producing woody feedstocks Value currently seen as front end-savings on follow-up reforestation plansValue currently seen as front end-savings on follow-up reforestation plans –Soil, Water, Habitat, and Biodiversity issues

Conclusions Biomass harvesting can and should be integrated into traditional forest management schemes in the South.Biomass harvesting can and should be integrated into traditional forest management schemes in the South. Short and long term issues and opportunitiesShort and long term issues and opportunities –Short term --- waste woods –Intentional regeneration for bioenergy and other biobased products, including Use of short-rotation woody cropsUse of short-rotation woody crops

Forest Encyclopedia Southern Regional Extension Forestry

229 Pages of Material229 Pages of Material 282 Images282 Images 429 Citations429 Citations Southern Forest Research Partnership, Inc.

UTN Web Based Learning Center.

Southern Regional Extension Forestry.