Elmia Wood June 2 - International Slash Conference
Efficient operations throughout the entire biofuel chain, the latest trends, the risks of slash harvesting and two exciting field trips to test the theories in reality.
The programme for the international slash conference being organised by the Swedish Bioenergy Association (SVEBIO) on 2 June is taking shape. The list of speakers includes Tomas Johannesson and Rolf Björheden from the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden (Skogforsk) and Hillevi Eriksson from the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen).Tomas Johannesson from the Forestry Research Institute’s forest fuel programme emphasises the importance of a well functioning production chain. “All the links in the chain have to be strong in order to achieve efficient energy extraction. It isn’t enough just to invest in crushing machines or hauling resources if the rest of the production flow doesn’t work. If there isn’t a balance from the felling area all the way to the heating plant, then the energy loss is too great.”
Johannesson’s lecture will therefore focus on flow models.
“One important prerequisite for the success of the Swedish biofuel model is that biofuel has become accepted as a distinct kind of fuel. This is very much thanks to the fact that focus has been placed on all stages of the production chain.”
So where does the biggest development potential lie right now?
”At the moment it lies in what can be termed market planning: terminal handling and long distance logistics. Over the longer term the potential lies in the development of more efficient machine solutions. This is a really exciting field to be working in - it’s cutting-edge stuff and a lot of development is happening.”
Ash recycling closes the environmental loop
Hillevi Eriksson is a climate expert at the Swedish Forest Agency and will describe the results of research into the environmental effects of biofuel extraction. “I will be presenting the work we are doing in Sweden to achieve a sustainable practice for extraction of fuel fractions. Such practices take into account biological diversity plus the acidification or nutrient imbalances that can otherwise occur.”
What risks are involved with slash extraction? “First we have extraction that is just wrong - for instance that timber set aside as deadwood during logging is also taken out as slash. Or that poor consideration is paid to moist soils and natural streams. Then there is the risk that the extraction is intensive enough in relation to natural compensation and therefore result in acidification or nutrient imbalances.”
However, ash recycling - that is, taking the ashes created at the combustion of the biofuel and putting them back into the forest - is one good way to compensate for such acidification and nutrient losses. “As extraction of harvesting residues is increasing fast, we have not et achieved a satisfactory level when it comes to compensating for the environmental effects of extracting biofuel in Sweden, but I believe we’re heading in the right direction,” she says.
Stump harvesting develops the raw material mix
Rolf Björheden, programme manager of Skogsforsk’s forest fuel programme, will talk about possible development trends with regard to the supply of raw materials. “In Sweden today the largest proportion of our raw materials consists of sawmill by-products. We can only increase this proportion if the sawmills increase their own volumes.” Logging residues currently comprise about 25 per cent of Sweden’s raw materials.
“We believe a reasonable increase would be to about 50 per cent, that is, 20 to 25 million cubic metres.” One interesting new addition to the raw materials mix is harvesting stumps and small trees from thinnings. “This is the focus of much of the raw materials development right now.” So why has Sweden become the world leader in biofuel handling? “The industry has developed within a context that is strictly business - not with the help of subsidies but by supplying good solutions. This situation has been the driver of healthy economic development for the parties involved.”
Finally, what does Björheden hope the conference will offer its attendees? “Our goal is that attendees will develop from being interested in biofuel to being able to start working with it in practice.” In addition to the speakers mentioned above, the conference will also have a field trip component. One destination is Askungen Vital AB, a company that specialises in ash recycling to a forest environment. Another destination is the modern biofuel facility at the Nässjö district heating plant.