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Mark MegalosJames Jeuck

Extension Forestry

North CarolinaCooperative Extension ServiceNORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Woody Biomass Energy in North Carolina

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Why Woody Biomass?“Nature’s renewable energy”

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Our Appetite for NonRenewable Fossil Fuels

The U.S. uses about 25% of world oil production, but wehave only about 2.5% of the world’s supply*.

* Based on June 2007 world cosumption & 2005 reserves

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Meanwhile Renewable Energy Costs DroppingLevelized cents/kWh in constant $20001

Wind

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

PVC

OE

ce

nts

/kW

h

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

40

30

20

10

0

100

80

60

40

20

0

BiomassGeothermal Solar thermal

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

CO

E c

en

ts/k

Wh

10

8

6

4

2

0

70

60

50

40

30

2010

0

15

12

9

6

3

0

Source: NREL Energy Analysis Office (www.nrel.gov/analysis/docs/cost_curves_2002.ppt)1These graphs are reflections of historical cost trends NOT precise annual historical data.Updated: October 2002

04/08/23

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GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

04/08/23

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How is Woody Biomass Produced?

• a by-product of conventional harvesting

• A chipper is added to the mix of logging equipment

• Logging residues, cull trees, thinnings in absence of pulpwood markets are chipped

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Electricity• Dedicated biomass

burning electric plants (cogeneration)

• Mixing wood with coal at public utility plants (co-firing)

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Combined Heat and PowerHeating and Air Conditioning

• Schools• Hospitals• Campuses• District heating• Industry

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Future Ethanol & Biodiesel Production?• Numerous methods

developing

• None are working commercial scale

• Best guess is 5-10 years off

• May be largely supplied with coming energy plantations?

(slide borrowed from Alex Hobbs)

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How can woody biomass markets help you reach your goals for owning land?

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What are the benefits to you as a forest landowner? (It’s mostly about better utilization during harvesting)

• Higher quality timber during logging

• Lower site prep & planting costs• Some $ for you as markets

develop • It may be the only way to get

your plantations thinned• "Start-over” on: poor or damaged

timber land

Harvesting with chipping

Fixing “sins” of the past

• Improving diversity

• Increasing productivity

• Reducing risks

• Increasing economic viability

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Forest Health Opportunities

48% of woodlands have too many trees

Wildfire Risk Management/Firewise

About 75% of our forests presentwildfire threats to structures

and communities!

Salvage after Fire, Storms, or Pests

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Better Forest Products and Income Through Improved Management

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What Will Not Likely Happen in the Forest!

• Sawtimber becoming energy wood ($35-$49/ton delivered*)

• Chip ‘n saw becoming energy wood ($37/ton average*)

**Timber Mart South, 3rd Quarter 2007

*biomass has been bringing $14-20/ton delivered

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Benefits to You in a Nutshell

Bottom Line – You may never receive a lotof income directly from biomass markets,but they can help you manage your standsfor high-value timber products & wildlife.

Woody Biomass Website Developmentwww.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry

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NCSU Extension Forestry

Woody Biomass Service Center

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• GIS site analysis for woody biomass supply• Supply curves for of multiple woody biomass sources

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