Can Biochar Link Forest Restoration with Commercial Agriculture? · 2019-12-23 · • In 2015...
Transcript of Can Biochar Link Forest Restoration with Commercial Agriculture? · 2019-12-23 · • In 2015...
Photo: J. Petitmermet
Economic Evaluation of a Forest-to-Farm Biochar Paradigm
David SmithJohn SessionsKristin TrippeClaire PhillipsJohn Campbell
Will HollomanJoshua PetitmermetJeremy FriedDan LeavellJohn Bailey
Can Biochar Link Forest Restoration with Commercial
Agriculture?
United States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service
Sessions et al., Journal of Biomass and Bioenergy (in review)
• Limited demand for forest harvest residues restricts the ability of foresters to fund restoration projects.
Source: US Drought Monitor
Catastrophic fire threatens Oregon’s forests
Courtesy of J. Bailey
• 4 million ha. are at high risk of wildfire in Oregon
• Most of the risk is due to decades of fire suppression and a lack of funds to support fuel reduction treatments
Drought threatens Oregon’s crops
Source: OCCRI
• Biochar has the potential to improve water availability in agricultural soils, but limited supplies means costs are high.
• Does a forest-origin biochar strategy pair these reciprocal needs of forest restoration and agricultural productivity?
Source: USFS
• In 2015 drought caused over >$1.2 billion in crop losses
Does a forest-to-farm biochar paradigm pair the needs of forest restoration and agriculture?
BiocharProduction
Process
Bio-oil
Bio-Gas
Chipping/Grinding Transporting
Forest Thinnings
Dryland food crops
Field application
Courtesy of J. Petitmermet
Courtesy of J. Petitmermet
BiocharProduction
Process
Bio-oil
Bio-Gas
Chipping/Grinding Transporting
Forest Thinnings
Dryland food crops
Field application
Does a forest-to-farm biochar paradigm pair the needs of forest restoration and agriculture?
BiocharProduction
Process
Bio-oil
Bio-Gas
Chipping/Grinding Transporting
Forest Thinnings
Dryland food crops
Field application
Courtesy of J. Petitmermet
BiocharProduction
Process
Bio-oil
Bio-Gas
Chipping/Grinding Transporting
Forest Thinnings
Dryland food crops
Field application
!
BiocharProduction
Process
Bio-oil
Bio-Gas
Chipping/Grinding Transporting
Forest Thinnings
Dryland food crops
Field application
Source: US Drought Monitor
Study Area: Klamath Basin of Oregon
Is it economical to reduce fuel loads on steep slopes?
A shift level productivity study using steep slope harvesting technology was used to develop a model of tethered harvest.
Is it economical to reduce fuel loads on steep slopes?
• The cost of tethered machines on tethered operations (TT) and untethered operations (TU), and the cost of untethered machines on untethered operations (UT) were estimated.
Josh Petitmermet et al., (in preparation)
• Model calculated average harvest and transport cost to each plant
Thermal Pyrolysis
BIOCHAR PRODUCTION PROCESS
Scenario 2Heat Recovery
Scenario 3Electricity generation
Scenario 4Liquid
Recovery
50,000 BDT of forest restoration logs / year
18,000 tons/year
Scenario 1Biochar
Production
MillingDryingChipping
Microwave PyrolysisMicrowave Pyrolysis
Capital Costs
Biochar Production Cost
Complexity of plant does not increase price
Biochar Pdxn0
100
200
300
400
US
D/ t
on
230
392
291
215
Biochar Pdxn0
10
20
30
Cos
t (M
illio
n U
SD
)
20.117.5
17.3
20.3
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery0
10
20
30
Cos
t (M
illio
n U
SD)
20.117.517.3
20.3 +0.5*
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery0
100
200
300
400
USD
/ ton
230
392
291
215188
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn0
10
20
30
Cos
t (M
illio
n U
SD)
20.117.517.3
20.3 +0.5*+4.2
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn0
100
200
300
400
USD
/ ton
230
392
291
215188
167
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn Liquid Recovery0
10
20
30
Cos
t (M
illio
n U
SD)
20.117.517.3
20.3 +0.5*+4.2
+0.9
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn Liquid Recovery0
100
200
300
400
USD
/ ton 230
188
392
291
215167 193
Critical Economic Factors•Plant location • Influences delivered log costs
•Electricity rates•Higher in California and for microwave production
•Plant Complexity•Recovery of energy and condensable liquids adds
capital and operating costs but in the end, offsets the production cost
•Seasonality• Influences raw material and finished product inventory• Log deliveries limited to summer months• Product sales limited to spring and fall months• Plant operates year round to maximize asset utilization
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn Liquid Recovery0
10
20
30
Cos
t (M
illio
n U
SD)
20.117.517.3
20.3 +0.5*+4.2
+0.9
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn Liquid Recovery0
100
200
300
400
USD
/ ton 230
188
392
291
215167 193
Biochar Production Cost without Harvest
and Transport
Harvest and Transport Impact Biochar Production Costs
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn Liquid Recovery0
100
200
300
400
USD
/ ton 230
188
392
291
215167 193
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn Liquid Recovery0
200
400
600U
SD/ t
on
398326
519
427354
306 316
Biochar Production Cost
with Harvest and Transport
Can Farmers Afford Forest-Origin Biochar?
Can Farmers Afford Forest-Origin Biochar?
Conventional Crops
IBI Estimate
This Study
Claire Phillips: PNW Biochar Atlas Session 1C Wed 9:45
Can Farmers Afford Forest-Origin Biochar?
Organic Crops
IBI EstimateThis Study
Can Farmers Afford Forest-Origin Biochar?
-4000
-2000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
Cha
nge
in in
com
e ($
/acr
e)
Ryegrass WheatApple
BlueberryGrape Hops
10% yield increase
20% yield increase
Potato
*Assume 2-ton acre amendment rate
Can Farmers Afford Forest-Origin Biochar?
Summary • The production of biochar from forest residues has the potential to
• Reduce fire risk
• Store forest-origin carbon in agricultural soils
• Lower the price point for biochar products
• Our economic analysis determined that:
• Microwave pyrolysis is more costly than thermal pyrolysis
• Electrical generation from this process adds a significant capital cost but lowers overall price point
• Local commodity markets are not enough to support a biochar industry
Economic Evaluation of a Forest-to-Farm Biochar Paradigm
David SmithJohn SessionsKristin TrippeClaire PhillipsJohn CampbellJohn Bailey
Will HollomanJoshua PetitmermetJeremy FriedDan Leavell
Photo: J. Petitmermet
Acknowledgments
United States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service
Collaborators: Karr Group; BSEI Inc.; Green Diamond; Miller Timber
Char Properties
Source: USFS