can biochar link forest restoration with commercial ...the needs of forest restoration and...
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Engineering Conferences InternationalECI Digital ArchivesBiochar: Production, Characterization andApplications Proceedings
8-20-2017
Can biochar link forest restoration with commercialagriculture?David C. SmithOregon State University, USA
Kristin TrippeUSDA, USA
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Recommended CitationDavid C. Smith and Kristin Trippe, "Can biochar link forest restoration with commercial agriculture?" in "Biochar: Production,Characterization and Applications", Franco Berruti, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada Raffaella Ocone, Heriot-WattUniversity, Edinburgh, UK Ondrej Masek, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Eds, ECI Symposium Series, (2017).http://dc.engconfintl.org/biochar/26
Economic Evaluation of a Forest‐to‐Farm Biochar Paradigm
David SmithJohn SessionsKristin TrippeClaire PhillipsJohn CampbellJohn Bailey
Will HollomanJoshua PetitmermetJeremy FriedDan LeavellViola ManningStephanie Chiu
Photo: J. Petitmermet
Can Biochar Link Forest Restoration with Commercial Agriculture?
United States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service
• 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 resulted in over >$1.2 billion in crop losses
Does a forest‐to‐farm biochar paradigm pair the needs of forest restoration and agriculture?
Courtesy of J. Petitmermet
Courtesy of J. Petitmermet
Char Properties
Source: USFS
Does a forest‐to‐farm biochar paradigm pair the needs of forest restoration and agriculture?
Courtesy of J. Petitmermet
Courtesy of J. Petitmermet
Source: US Drought Monitor
Klamath Basin of Oregon: where irrigated cropping systems, water scarcity, and high fire‐hazard forests share the same landscape
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
Microwave Pyrolysis
MillingDryingChipping
Biochar Pdxn0
100
200
300
400
USD/
ton
304275
381325
Biochar Pdxn0
10
20
30
Cost
(M
illio
n US
D) 20.117.517.3
20.3
Preliminary Capital Costs
Preliminary Biochar
Production Cost
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery0
100
200
300
400
USD/
ton
304275
381325
+3*Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery
0
10
20
30
Cost
(M
illio
n US
D) 20.117.517.3
20.3 +0.5*
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn0
100
200
300
400
USD/
ton
304275
381325
+3* +12Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn
0
10
20
30
Cost
(M
illio
n US
D) 20.117.517.3
20.3 +0.5*+4.2
Biochar Pdxn Heat Recovery Electricity Pdxn Liquid Recovery0
10
20
30
Cost
(M
illio
n US
D) 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
304275
381325
+3* +12 +1
Preliminary Cost Estimates
Critical Economic Factors
• Plant location • Influences delivered log costs
• Electricity rates• Higher in California than Oregon• Higher usage for microwave technology
• Plant Complexity• Recovery of energy and condensable liquids adds capital and operating costs
• 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
Cost
(M
illio
n US
D) 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
304275
381325
+3* +12 +1
Summary
• Biochar‐based products utilize low‐value biomass from forest restoration projects. Simultaneously, biochar can:
• Prolong the storage of soil water
• Sequester carbon in soils
• Improve plant productivity
• Our economic analysis determined that:
• Microwave pyrolysis is more costly than thermal pyrolysis
• Electrical generation from this process adds a significant cost
• Further analyses will determine if these extra costs can be offset.
Economic Evaluation of a Forest‐to‐Farm Biochar Paradigm
David SmithJohn SessionsKristin TrippeClaire PhillipsJohn CampbellJohn Bailey
Will HollomanJoshua PetitmermetJeremy FriedDan LeavellViola ManningStephanie Chiu
Photo: J. Petitmermet
Acknowledgments
United States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service
Collaborators: Karr Group; BSEI Inc.; Green Diamond, Miller Timber Services
Source: USFS
Biochar Plant Design Assumptions• Log supply:
• 50,000 bdt/year• Low‐grade logs from restoration treatments on National Forests
•Plant Location• Existing wood processing sites in Oregon and California
•Primary Technology• Thermal and Microwave pyrolysis reactors from commercial suppliers
•Other Technology• Size reduction and material handling systems from commercial suppliers