The use of forest residue for bioenergy

Forest Engineering South Africa (FESA) has published a comprehensive report covering the use of forest residues from plantations for bioenergy.

The report considers current knowledge on the potential sustainable availability, management, harvesting, transport and processing of forest residues from plantation forests in South Africa. The report is largely applicable to many countries carrying out plantation forestry, although certain sites and species may differ. The report is divided into the following key sections:
 

• Methods for assessment of residual biomass from inventory data: This includes the biomass components and biomass sampling and modelling.
• Assessment of nutritional sustainability and allowable nutrient removal: Site sustainability issues are investigated.
• Biomass harvesting and transport: The factors influencing biomass supply chains are identified. Much attention is given to the specific biomass harvesting methods and systems. Road transport is also included.
• Economic evaluation of the bioenergy value chain: This section covers the bioenergy value chain model, financial analysis, biomass production, biomass harvesting, residue estimation, transport and storage, and energy production.
• Conversion of biomass to energy: This overview deals with conversion efficiency, the suitability of biomass and the properties of biomass residues.

The report was published as ICFR Bulletin 03/2013 and is titled “The use of forest residue for bioenergy in southern Africa” The authors are P Ackerman, C Ham, S Dovey, B du Toit, J de Wet, A Kunneke, T Siefert, M Meinken and C von Doderer. Source: http://www.icfr.ukzn.ac.za/icfrfiles/publication/FESA/03-2013Bioenergy.pdf