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Andre Faaij - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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impact of increased Wood Pellet demand on biodiversity in the south eastern united states
Gcb Bioenergy, 2018Co-Authors: Anna S Duden, P A Verweij, Andre Faaij, Matthew J Rubino, Nathan M Tarr, Floor Van Der HilstAbstract:Increasing Wood Pellet exports from the United States are projected to lead to changes in land use and timberland management, including a shift from natural timberland to pine plantations. These projected changes may impact biodiversity. This study aims to quantify potential biodiversity impacts of increased Wood Pellet demand in the south-eastern United States in a spatially explicit manner. We determined differences according to an index of potential species richness (for total, threatened and endemic species and four taxonomic groups) between scenarios of high and low demand for Wood Pellets, while taking into account potential developments in other Wood markets and other land uses. Increased demand for Wood Pellets was projected to cause both positive and negative biodiversity impacts. Negative shifts in total potential species richness were projected for areas in Florida, coastal Virginia and North Carolina, and parts of the Gulf Coast. Positive shifts in total potential species richness were projected in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas. In some locations, the direction of change differed per taxonomic group, highlighting the importance of analysing different taxonomic groups. Shifts in potential species richness due to increased Wood Pellet demand were considerably smaller compared to the changes due to other drivers, such as urbanization and increased timber demand. Biodiversity impacts due to Wood Pellet demand should therefore be considered in the context of other drivers of land-use change and biodiversity loss. Our results provide information that allows policymakers, industry and NGOs to focus on areas of concern and take appropriate mitigation measures to limit negative biodiversity impacts and promote positive impacts. The spatially explicit approach presented in this study can be applied to different regions and drivers of land-use change, to show how projected demand for an internationally traded commodity may lead to impacts on land use and biodiversity in the procurement region.
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modeling the impacts of Wood Pellet demand on forest dynamics in southeastern united states
Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining, 2017Co-Authors: Anna S Duden, P A Verweij, Martin H Junginger, Robert C Abt, Jesse D Henderson, Virginia H Dale, Keith L Kline, Derek Karssenberg, Judith A Verstegen, Andre FaaijAbstract:The export of Wood Pellets from the southeastern United States (USA) has grown significantly in recent years, following rising demand from Europe. Increased Wood Pellet demand could lead to spatially variable changes in timberland management and area in the USA. This study presents an assessment of the impacts of increasing Wood Pellet demand (an additional 11.6 Mt by 2030) on land-use dynamics, taking into account developments in other Wood product markets as well as expected changes in other land uses. An economic model for the forest sector of the southeastern USA (SRTS) was linked to a land-use change model (PLUC) to identify potential locations of land-use change following scenarios of demand for Pellets and other Wood products. Projections show that in the absence of additional demand for Wood Pellets, natural timberland area is projected to decline by 450–15 000 km2 by 2030, mainly through urbanization and pine plantation establishment. Under the high Wood Pellet demand scenario, more (2000–7500 km2) natural timberland area is retained and more (8000–20 000 km2) pine plantation is established. Shifts from natural timberland to pine plantation occur predominantly in the Atlantic coastal region. Future work will assess the impact of projected transitions in natural timberland and pine plantations on biodiversity and carbon storage. This modeling framework can be applied for multiple scenarios and land-use projections to identify locations of timberland area changes for the whole southeastern USA, thereby informing the debate about potential impacts of Wood Pellet demand on land-use dynamics and environmental services. © 2017 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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carbon payback period and carbon offset parity point of Wood Pellet production in the south eastern united states
Gcb Bioenergy, 2014Co-Authors: J G G Jonker, Martin Junginger, Andre FaaijAbstract:This study examines the effect of methodological choices to determine the carbon payback time and the offset parity point for Wood Pellet production from softWood plantations in the South-eastern United States. Using the carbon accounting model GORCAM we model low-, medium- and high-intensity plantation management scenarios for a single stand level, an increasing stand level and a landscape level. Other variables are the fossil-fuel reference system and the electrical conversion efficiency. Due to the large amount of possible methodological choices and reference systems, there is a wide range of payback times (≤1 year at landscape to 27 years at stand level) and offset parity points (2–106 years). Important aspects impacting on the carbon balances are yield, carbon replacement factor, system boundaries and the choice of reference scenario used to determine the parity point. We consider the landscape-level carbon debt approach more appropriate for the situation in the South-eastern United States, where softWood plantation is already in existence, and under this precondition, we conclude that the issue of carbon payback is basically nonexistent. If comparison against a protection scenario is deemed realistic and policy relevant, and assuming that Wood Pellets directly replace coal in an average coal power plant, the carbon offset parity point is in the range 12–46 years; i.e. one or two rotations. Switching to intensively managed plantations yields most drastic reduction in the time to parity points (≤17 years in 9 of 12 cases).
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the european Wood Pellet markets current status and prospects for 2020
Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining, 2011Co-Authors: Richard Sikkema, Martin Junginger, Monika Steiner, Wolfgang Hiegl, Morten Tony Hansen, Andre FaaijAbstract:The Wood Pellet market is booming in Europe. The EU 2020 policy targets for renewable energy sources and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction are among the main drivers. The aim of this analysis is to map cur- rent European national Wood Pellet demand and supplies, to provide a comprehensive overview of major market types and prices, and to discuss the future outlook in light of raw material supply. Approximately 650 Pellet plants produced more than 10 million tonnes of Pellets in 2009 in Europe. Total European consumption was about 9.8 mil- lion tonnes, of which some 9.2 million tonnes is within the EU-27, representing a modest 0.2% of Gross Energy Consumption (75 EJ level in 2008). The prices of most Pellet types are increasing. While most markets of non-indus- trial Pellets are largely self-suffi cient, industrial Pellet markets depend on the import of Wood Pellets from outside the EU-27. Industrial Pellet markets are relatively mature, compared to non-industrial ones, because of their advanced storage facilities and long-term price-setting. However, industrial Pellet markets are unstable, depending mainly on the establishment or the abolishment of public support schemes. Following our scenarios, additional 2020 demand for Woody biomass varies from 105 million tonnes, based on mar- ket forecasts for Pellets in the energy sector and a reference growth of the forest sector, to 305 million tonnes, based on maximum demand in energy and transport sectors and a rapid growth of the forest sector. Additional supply of Woody biomass may vary from 45 million tonnes from increased harvest levels to 400 million tonnes after the recovery of slash via altered forest management, the recovery of waste Wood via recycling, and the establishment of Woody energy plantations in the future. Any short-term shortages within the EU-27 may be bridged via imports from nearby regions such as north west Russia or overseas. © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Supporting information may be found in the online version of this article.
Brian Kittler - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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assessing the Wood sourcing practices of the u s industrial Wood Pellet industry supplying european energy demand
Energy Sustainability and Society, 2020Co-Authors: Brian Kittler, Inge Stupak, Tattersall C SmithAbstract:As the demand for Wood Pellets has increased in EU member states, so has a multi-pronged examination of the environmental effects of establishing a transatlantic trade in Wood Pellets between the U.S. and Europe. However, the nature of industrial Wood Pellet supply chains is poorly understood or little known. This work aimed to understand the feedstock sourcing strategies being used by the Wood Pellet industry in the southeast U.S., commonly applied approaches to documenting sustainability of these feedstocks, and drivers operating behind related developments. This study used structured interviews of sustainability managers and procurement staff at Pellet mills comprising 75% of the U.S. industrial Pellet sector. The industry was classified into types of supply chains, based on the role of loggers, Wood dealers, sawmills, and other Wood product facilities in the supply chains. Additional classifications examined feedstock types and origins, number and type of suppliers, contractual relationships with suppliers, applied procurement systems, risk assessment and due-diligence methodologies, risk mitigation procedures, and supply chain certifications. Three main types of supply chains were identified within the U.S. industrial Pellet sector, differentiated based on features of feedstock procurement, risk assessment procedures, and risk management. The study observed a slight shift toward using a higher proportion of Wood residuals as feedstock in some of the larger Pellet mills. Policy requirements, customer orders, and external pressures were driving the sector’s adoption of sustainability programs, with risk assessments and Wood procurement procedures aligned to policy requirements. The strength of a risk-based approach to sustainability documentation depends on the quality of source data on risks within a sourcing area, scale of analysis, and integration of risk assessments into procurement practices. Some risk categories are more difficult to assess and control. Challenges increase with increasing number and diversity of supply chain actors and depend on the nature of agreements between these entities for the conveyance of feedstocks to Pellet mills. Fiber procurement is similar to pulpWood-using industries, but extending the risk assessment to residuals is complicated and challenging to the sector. The study identified a number of strategies in use within Pellet mill supply chains for dealing with these challenges.
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Assessing the Wood sourcing practices of the U.S. industrial Wood Pellet industry supplying European energy demand
Energy Sustainability and Society, 2020Co-Authors: Brian Kittler, Inge Stupak, C. Tattersall SmithAbstract:Background As the demand for Wood Pellets has increased in EU member states, so has a multi-pronged examination of the environmental effects of establishing a transatlantic trade in Wood Pellets between the U.S. and Europe. However, the nature of industrial Wood Pellet supply chains is poorly understood or little known. This work aimed to understand the feedstock sourcing strategies being used by the Wood Pellet industry in the southeast U.S., commonly applied approaches to documenting sustainability of these feedstocks, and drivers operating behind related developments. Methods This study used structured interviews of sustainability managers and procurement staff at Pellet mills comprising 75% of the U.S. industrial Pellet sector. The industry was classified into types of supply chains, based on the role of loggers, Wood dealers, sawmills, and other Wood product facilities in the supply chains. Additional classifications examined feedstock types and origins, number and type of suppliers, contractual relationships with suppliers, applied procurement systems, risk assessment and due-diligence methodologies, risk mitigation procedures, and supply chain certifications. Results Three main types of supply chains were identified within the U.S. industrial Pellet sector, differentiated based on features of feedstock procurement, risk assessment procedures, and risk management. The study observed a slight shift toward using a higher proportion of Wood residuals as feedstock in some of the larger Pellet mills. Policy requirements, customer orders, and external pressures were driving the sector’s adoption of sustainability programs, with risk assessments and Wood procurement procedures aligned to policy requirements. Conclusions The strength of a risk-based approach to sustainability documentation depends on the quality of source data on risks within a sourcing area, scale of analysis, and integration of risk assessments into procurement practices. Some risk categories are more difficult to assess and control. Challenges increase with increasing number and diversity of supply chain actors and depend on the nature of agreements between these entities for the conveyance of feedstocks to Pellet mills. Fiber procurement is similar to pulpWood-using industries, but extending the risk assessment to residuals is complicated and challenging to the sector. The study identified a number of strategies in use within Pellet mill supply chains for dealing with these challenges.
Tattersall C Smith - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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assessing the Wood sourcing practices of the u s industrial Wood Pellet industry supplying european energy demand
Energy Sustainability and Society, 2020Co-Authors: Brian Kittler, Inge Stupak, Tattersall C SmithAbstract:As the demand for Wood Pellets has increased in EU member states, so has a multi-pronged examination of the environmental effects of establishing a transatlantic trade in Wood Pellets between the U.S. and Europe. However, the nature of industrial Wood Pellet supply chains is poorly understood or little known. This work aimed to understand the feedstock sourcing strategies being used by the Wood Pellet industry in the southeast U.S., commonly applied approaches to documenting sustainability of these feedstocks, and drivers operating behind related developments. This study used structured interviews of sustainability managers and procurement staff at Pellet mills comprising 75% of the U.S. industrial Pellet sector. The industry was classified into types of supply chains, based on the role of loggers, Wood dealers, sawmills, and other Wood product facilities in the supply chains. Additional classifications examined feedstock types and origins, number and type of suppliers, contractual relationships with suppliers, applied procurement systems, risk assessment and due-diligence methodologies, risk mitigation procedures, and supply chain certifications. Three main types of supply chains were identified within the U.S. industrial Pellet sector, differentiated based on features of feedstock procurement, risk assessment procedures, and risk management. The study observed a slight shift toward using a higher proportion of Wood residuals as feedstock in some of the larger Pellet mills. Policy requirements, customer orders, and external pressures were driving the sector’s adoption of sustainability programs, with risk assessments and Wood procurement procedures aligned to policy requirements. The strength of a risk-based approach to sustainability documentation depends on the quality of source data on risks within a sourcing area, scale of analysis, and integration of risk assessments into procurement practices. Some risk categories are more difficult to assess and control. Challenges increase with increasing number and diversity of supply chain actors and depend on the nature of agreements between these entities for the conveyance of feedstocks to Pellet mills. Fiber procurement is similar to pulpWood-using industries, but extending the risk assessment to residuals is complicated and challenging to the sector. The study identified a number of strategies in use within Pellet mill supply chains for dealing with these challenges.
Frank Schultmann - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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assessing the integration of torrefaction into Wood Pellet production
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2014Co-Authors: Mahdi Mobini, Jornchristian Meyer, F Trippe, Taraneh Sowlati, M Frohling, Frank SchultmannAbstract:In this study a dynamic simulation modeling approach is used to assess the integration of torrefaction into the Wood Pellet production and distribution supply chain. The developed model combines discrete event and discrete rate simulation approaches and allows considering uncertainties, interdependencies, and resource constraints along the supply chain which are usually simplified or ignored in static and deterministic models. It includes the whole supply chain from sources of raw materials to the distribution of the final products. The model is applied to an existing Wood Pellet supply chain, located in British Columbia, Canada, to assess the cost of delivered torrefied Pellets to different markets, energy demand, and carbon dioxide emissions along the supply chain and compare them with those of regular Pellets. In the presented case study, integration of torrefaction leads to lower delivered cost to existing and potential markets due to increased energy density and reduced distribution costs. In comparison with regular Pellets, the delivered cost of torrefied Pellets ($/GJ) to Northwest Europe is 9% lower. Also, the energy consumption and the emitted carbon dioxide along the supply chain are decreased due to more efficient transportation of torrefied Pellets. Integration of torrefaction into the Wood Pellet production and distribution supply chain could result in less expensive and cleaner biofuel. The feasibility of such integration depends on the trade-off between the higher capital and operating costs and the reduced transportation costs.
C. Tattersall Smith - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Assessing the Wood sourcing practices of the U.S. industrial Wood Pellet industry supplying European energy demand
Energy Sustainability and Society, 2020Co-Authors: Brian Kittler, Inge Stupak, C. Tattersall SmithAbstract:Background As the demand for Wood Pellets has increased in EU member states, so has a multi-pronged examination of the environmental effects of establishing a transatlantic trade in Wood Pellets between the U.S. and Europe. However, the nature of industrial Wood Pellet supply chains is poorly understood or little known. This work aimed to understand the feedstock sourcing strategies being used by the Wood Pellet industry in the southeast U.S., commonly applied approaches to documenting sustainability of these feedstocks, and drivers operating behind related developments. Methods This study used structured interviews of sustainability managers and procurement staff at Pellet mills comprising 75% of the U.S. industrial Pellet sector. The industry was classified into types of supply chains, based on the role of loggers, Wood dealers, sawmills, and other Wood product facilities in the supply chains. Additional classifications examined feedstock types and origins, number and type of suppliers, contractual relationships with suppliers, applied procurement systems, risk assessment and due-diligence methodologies, risk mitigation procedures, and supply chain certifications. Results Three main types of supply chains were identified within the U.S. industrial Pellet sector, differentiated based on features of feedstock procurement, risk assessment procedures, and risk management. The study observed a slight shift toward using a higher proportion of Wood residuals as feedstock in some of the larger Pellet mills. Policy requirements, customer orders, and external pressures were driving the sector’s adoption of sustainability programs, with risk assessments and Wood procurement procedures aligned to policy requirements. Conclusions The strength of a risk-based approach to sustainability documentation depends on the quality of source data on risks within a sourcing area, scale of analysis, and integration of risk assessments into procurement practices. Some risk categories are more difficult to assess and control. Challenges increase with increasing number and diversity of supply chain actors and depend on the nature of agreements between these entities for the conveyance of feedstocks to Pellet mills. Fiber procurement is similar to pulpWood-using industries, but extending the risk assessment to residuals is complicated and challenging to the sector. The study identified a number of strategies in use within Pellet mill supply chains for dealing with these challenges.
