LAPSE:2023.26244
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.26244
Degraded Trees from Spruce Budworm Epidemics as Bioenergy Feedstock: A Profitability Analysis of Forest Operations
Mathieu Béland, Evelyne Thiffault, Julie Barrette, Warren Mabee
April 3, 2023
Natural disturbances are common in Canadian boreal managed forests. For example, during and after insect epidemics, foresters must deal with significant amounts of degraded or dead wood that cannot be processed into sawn timber or pulp. Bioenergy could be an alternative pathway for this wood. A case study in Quebec (Canada) was used to evaluate the profitability of pellet production for bioenergy using degraded trees from insect epidemics. A bioenergy scenario was simulated in which degraded trees were harvested for bioenergy alongside sound wood for timber and pulp. This scenario was compared to a reference scenario in which degraded trees were left on cutovers. Using wood pellets as a case study, the results showed that at current market prices, harvesting degraded trees for pellet production is not as profitable as leaving them in the forest. Nevertheless, the overall forest operations for procuring wood for timber and pulp were still profitable, even with very high degradation levels. Procuring degraded trees reduced the overall fixed costs per harvested m3 and allowed average savings of C$2.83/harvested m3. The silvicultural savings associated with lower site preparation needs following procurement of degraded trees ranged from C$0/ha to C$500/ha, resulting in average savings of C$2.31/harvested m3. Depending on the stand conditions, the distribution of fixed costs and silvicultural savings of biomass procurement could be either low or significant.
Keywords
costs, forest biomass, natural disturbances, silviculture, wood pellets
Suggested Citation
Béland M, Thiffault E, Barrette J, Mabee W. Degraded Trees from Spruce Budworm Epidemics as Bioenergy Feedstock: A Profitability Analysis of Forest Operations. (2023). LAPSE:2023.26244
Author Affiliations
Béland M: Research Centre on Renewable Materials, Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Thiffault E: Research Centre on Renewable Materials, Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada [ORCID]
Barrette J: Direction of Forest Research, Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Quebec City, QC G1P 3W8, Canada
Mabee W: School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
13
Issue
18
Article Number
E4609
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-09-04
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en13184609, Publication Type: Journal Article
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Apr 3, 2023
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