Feasibility of wood-biomass utilization as an energy source: Case study in Tohno city, Iwate prefecture [Japan]
2004
Kuboyama, H. (Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst., Tsukuba, Ibaraki (Japan)) | Nishizono, T. | Iehara, T. | Okuda, H.
Kuboyama, H., Nishizono, T., Iehara, T., and Okuda, H.: Feasibility of Wood-biomass Utilization as an Energy Source: Case Study in Tohno City. Iwate Prefecture. J. Jpn. For. Soc. 86 : 112 - 120, 2004 In Tohno City, we examined the feasibility of utilizing forestry and timber processing residues as biomass fuel based on energy cost. Since there are several types of biomass fuel which have different moisture content and supply amount, the potential supply was estimated for each fuel type by using timber production and processing statistics and forest biomass yield tables. The total amount of residue was estimated at 58,000 t per year. To increase the wood-biomass supply it is important to establish inexpensive collecting systems for forestry residues, because the amount of forestry residue is three times larger than that of timber processing residues. Energy costs were defined as fuel cost per kg, including processing and transportation cost, divided by calorific value per kg. A comparison of the energy costs of biomass fuel to that of heavy oil, revealed that timber processing residues, excluding chips for pulp, were highly feasible. The supply curve of biomass fuel obtained suggested that we could collect biomass fuel more cheaply on a regional scale than on a municipal one under a limited demand. As the reliable amount of biomass fuel supply in Tohno was estimated at 6,500 t per year, construction of a rather small energy plant would be suitable for the city.
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