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Measuring the Regional Availability of Forest Biomass for Biofuels and the Potential of GHG Reduction

Author

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  • Fengli Zhang

    (College of Mechanical and Transportation Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China)

  • Dana M. Johnson

    (School of Business and Economics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA)

  • Jinjiang Wang

    (College of Mechanical and Transportation Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China)

  • Shuhai Liu

    (College of Mechanical and Transportation Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China)

  • Shimin Zhang

    (College of Mechanical and Transportation Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China)

Abstract

Forest biomass is an important resource for producing bioenergy and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The State of Michigan in the United States (U.S.) is one region recognized for its high potential of supplying forest biomass; however, the long-term availability of timber harvests and the associated harvest residues from this area has not been fully explored. In this study time trend analyses was employed for long term timber assessment and developed mathematical models for harvest residue estimation, as well as the implications of use for ethanol. The GHG savings potential of ethanol over gasoline was also modeled. The methods were applied in Michigan under scenarios of different harvest solutions, harvest types, transportation distances, conversion technologies, and higher heating values over a 50-year period. Our results indicate that the study region has the potential to supply 0.75–1.4 Megatonnes (Mt) dry timber annually and less than 0.05 Mt of dry residue produced from these harvests. This amount of forest biomass could generate 0.15–1.01 Mt of ethanol, which contains 0.68–17.32 GJ of energy. The substitution of ethanol for gasoline as transportation fuel has potential to reduce emissions by 0.043–1.09 Mt CO 2eq annually. The developed method is generalizable in other similar regions of different countries for bioenergy related analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Fengli Zhang & Dana M. Johnson & Jinjiang Wang & Shuhai Liu & Shimin Zhang, 2018. "Measuring the Regional Availability of Forest Biomass for Biofuels and the Potential of GHG Reduction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:1:p:198-:d:126931
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Kożuch & Dominika Cywicka & Krzysztof Adamowicz & Marek Wieruszewski & Emilia Wysocka-Fijorek & Paweł Kiełbasa, 2023. "The Use of Forest Biomass for Energy Purposes in Selected European Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Swati Tamantini & Alberto Del Lungo & Manuela Romagnoli & Alessandro Paletto & Michael Keller & Jacques Bersier & Florian Zikeli, 2021. "Basic Steps to Promote Biorefinery Value Chains in Forestry in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Matthias Erni & Vanessa Burg & Leo Bont & Oliver Thees & Marco Ferretti & Golo Stadelmann & Janine Schweier, 2020. "Current (2020) and Long-Term (2035 and 2050) Sustainable Potentials of Wood Fuel in Switzerland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-30, November.

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