scholarly journals Linking Federal Forest Restoration with Wood Utilization: Modeling Biomass Prices and Analyzing Forest Restoration Costs in the Northern Sierra Nevada

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2696
Author(s):  
Camille Swezy ◽  
John Bailey ◽  
Woodam Chung

Over half of California’s forestland is managed by the US Forest Service, and the agency has identified a need to scale up forest restoration treatments in the state to one million acres per year by 2025. However, the high costs of mechanical fuel reduction and lack of markets for biomass pose significant barriers to accomplishing this target. The objectives of this case study were: (1) to identify costs of forest restoration treatments on federally-managed land in the Northern Sierra under a variety of harvesting scenarios and haul distances to biomass facilities, and (2) to understand what market prices for biomass must be offered to support such efforts. We modeled silvicultural prescription and harvesting options, machine productivity and costs, and transportation costs to assess economic thresholds. Biomass harvest, chip, and haul costs ranged from $55/bone dry ton to $118/bone dry ton, depending on the harvesting system scenario and distance from the biomass disposal site. Results suggest that the cost of forest restoration far exceeds current market prices for biomass, and additional investment is needed to adequately pay for federal forest restoration in California. Additional takeaways include that biomass outlets closer to supply sources can reduce both haul costs and production costs, and local wood utilization campuses can play a key role in supporting forest restoration.

2013 ◽  
pp. 208-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Gröngröft ◽  
André Brosowski ◽  
Kathleen Meisel ◽  
Franziska Müller-Langer

Fuel ethanol produced from sugar and starch is to be complemented and eventually even replaced by ethanol produced from lignocellulose, in order to mitigate possible competition with the food sector. A first step towards this goal may be a combination of both feedstocks in one plant. This is topic of the presented study, whether synergies in lowering the production costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be reached through combined processing was topic of the presented study. A greenfield straw ethanol plant, a wheat ethanol plant and an integrated plant, processing both wheat grain and straw were developed and compared regarding the resulting GHG emissions and production costs. Despite showing the best results with regard to greenhouse gas emissions, greenfield straw ethanol production is related to relatively high production costs. The wheat based ethanol plant again is associated with higher GHG emissions, but low production costs. By combining straw and wheat processing, resulting production costs of EUR651/m3 ethanol are at a level close to market prices, but the same mitigation potential as separate straw based ethanol cannot be reached. The low level of 16.1 g CO2-eq/MJ of straw based ethanol results mainly from the use of the agricultural residue as feedstock and the use of the internally produced lignin to ensure the steam supply. In the assessment of the production costs, feedstock costs are one of the most relevant parameters. Since straw prices are not available from market statistics, an assessment of Germany’s sustainable straw potential in a high spatial resolution has served to calculate straw supply costs. Depending on the exact location of the plant, a range of EUR50/t to EUR90/t (fresh matter) was found to be the cost for straw provision.


Author(s):  
SAFITRI NURHIDAYATI ◽  
RIZKI AMELYA SYAM

This study aims to analyze whether the difference that occurs in the cost of raw materials, direct labor, and factory overhead costs between the standard costs and the actual costs in PLTU LATI is a difference that is favorable or unfavorable. Data collection techniques with field research and library research. The analytical tool used is the analysis of the difference in raw material costs, the difference in direct labor costs and the difference in factory overhead costs. The hypothesis in this study is that the difference allegedly occurs in the cost of raw materials, direct labor costs, and factory overhead costs at PT Indo Pusaka Berau Tanjung Redeb is a favorable difference. The results showed that the difference in the cost of producing MWh electricity at PT Indo Pusaka Berau Tanjung Redeb in 2018, namely the difference in the price of raw material costs Rp. 548,029.80, - is favorable, the difference in quantity of raw materials is Rp. 957,216,602, - is (favorable) , the difference in direct labor costs Rp 2,602,642,084, - is (unfavorable), and the difference in factory overhead costs Rp 8,807,051,422, - is (favorable) This shows that the difference in the overall production cost budget is favorable or profitable. This beneficial difference shows that the company is really able to reduce production costs optimally in 2018.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 02007
Author(s):  
Radu Dan Paltan ◽  
Cristina Biriş ◽  
Loredana Anne-Marie Rădulescu

Of many techniques that are used to optimize production and costs, the studies conducted within a profile company lead to our choice for testing the 6Sigma method (the most used method in the automotive industry) in view of the economic efficiency applied in the wood Industry company. This method measures how many flaws exist in a process and determines in a systematic way how to improve it by technical overhauling and eliminating or minimizing the process for efficiency. This research article aims to study the state of research on the optimization of the production process through technical overhauling for panels reconstituted from solid wood and ways to make production more efficient by cutting costs through technical overhauling. From preliminary research, we estimate that all the items founded and others that will result from further research will result in a significant decrease in production costs that are reflected in the cost of the finished product and consequently in increasing the yield of the company by maximizing its profit. At the same time it may be the basis of future research studies in the field. The easier it is to maximize profits, the lower the operating costs are and the higher recovery rate of investments are, that will result a change in the operating mode: “working smarter not harder”.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Ejiro Nwaefuna ◽  
Karl Rumbold ◽  
Teun Boekhout ◽  
Nerve Zhou

AbstractBioethanol from abundant and inexpensive agricultural and industrial wastes possesses the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bioethanol as renewable fuel addresses elevated production costs, as well as food security concerns. Although technical advancements in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation have reduced the cost of production, one major drawback of this technology is that the pre-treatment process creates environmental stressors inhibitory to fermentative yeasts subsequently reducing bioethanol productivity. Robust fermentative yeasts with extreme stress tolerance remain limited. This review presents the potential of dung beetles from pristine and unexplored environments as an attractive source of extremophilic bioethanolic yeasts. Dung beetles survive on a recalcitrant lignocellulose-rich diet suggesting the presence of symbiotic yeasts with a cellulolytic potential. Dung beetles inhabiting extreme stress environments have the potential to harbour yeasts with the ability to withstand inhibitory environmental stresses typically associated with bioethanol production. The review further discusses established methods used to isolate bioethanolic yeasts, from dung beetles.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4517
Author(s):  
Saheli Biswas ◽  
Shambhu Singh Rathore ◽  
Aniruddha Pramod Kulkarni ◽  
Sarbjit Giddey ◽  
Sankar Bhattacharya

Reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC) enable the efficient cyclic conversion between electrical and chemical energy in the form of fuels and chemicals, thereby providing a pathway for long-term and high-capacity energy storage. Amongst the different fuels under investigation, hydrogen, methane, and ammonia have gained immense attention as carbon-neutral energy vectors. Here we have compared the energy efficiency and the energy demand of rSOC based on these three fuels. In the fuel cell mode of operation (energy generation), two different routes have been considered for both methane and ammonia; Routes 1 and 2 involve internal reforming (in the case of methane) or cracking (in the case of ammonia) and external reforming or cracking, respectively. The use of hydrogen as fuel provides the highest round-trip efficiency (62.1%) followed by methane by Route 1 (43.4%), ammonia by Route 2 (41.1%), methane by Route 2 (40.4%), and ammonia by Route 1 (39.2%). The lower efficiency of internal ammonia cracking as opposed to its external counterpart can be attributed to the insufficient catalytic activity and stability of the state-of-the-art fuel electrode materials, which is a major hindrance to the scale-up of this technology. A preliminary cost estimate showed that the price of hydrogen, methane and ammonia produced in SOEC mode would be ~1.91, 3.63, and 0.48 $/kg, respectively. In SOFC mode, the cost of electricity generation using hydrogen, internally reformed methane, and internally cracked ammonia would be ~52.34, 46.30, and 47.11 $/MWh, respectively.


1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W Salant ◽  
Greg Shaffer

Oligopoly models where prior actions by firms affect subsequent marginal costs have been useful in illuminating policy debates in areas such as antitrust regulation, environmental protection, and international competition. We discuss properties of such models when a Cournot equilibrium occurs at the second stage. Aggregate production costs strictly decline with no change in gross revenue or gross consumer surplus if the prior actions strictly increase the variance of marginal costs without changing the marginal-cost sum. Therefore, unless the cost of inducing second-stage asymmetry more than offsets this reduction in production costs, the private and social optima are asymmetric. (JEL D43, L13, L40)


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-244
Author(s):  
Thomas P. West

This review examines the production of the microbial polysaccharide gellan, synthesized by Sphingomonas elodea, on dairy and plant-based processing coproducts. Gellan is a water-soluble gum that structurally exists as a tetrasaccharide comprised of 20% glucuronic acid, 60% glucose and 20% rhamnose, for which various food, non-food and biomedical applications have been reported. A number of carbon and nitrogen sources have been tested to determine whether they can support bacterial gellan production, with several studies attempting to optimize gellan production by varying the culture conditions. The genetics of the biosynthesis of gellan has been explored in a number of investigations and specific genes have been identified that encode the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of this polysaccharide. Genetic mutants exhibiting overproduction of gellan have also been identified and characterized. Several dairy and plant-based processing coproducts have been screened to learn whether they can support the production of gellan in an attempt to lower the cost of synthesizing the microbial polysaccharide. Of the processing coproducts explored, soluble starch as a carbon source supported the highest gellan production by S. elodea grown at 30 °C. The corn processing coproducts corn steep liquor or condensed distillers solubles appear to be effective nitrogen sources for gellan production. It was concluded that further research on producing gellan using a combination of processing coproducts could be an effective solution in lowering its overall production costs.


BioResources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 2117-2118
Author(s):  
Shunxi Song ◽  
Zeshi Wu ◽  
Jingyi Nie

The increase of filler content in paper is an effective way to reduce production costs and to promote the market competitiveness of paper mills. A shift from natural fillers to synthetic fillers has enabled improvements in the critical properties of paper. Meanwhile, innovations from single particles of filler to filler composites has made it possible to increase the filler content of paper. Among various filler innovations, the design of fiber/filler composites has aroused general attention from industry and academic researchers. However, concerns related to the cost and recyclability of composite fillers remain to be addressed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Lailah Fujianti ◽  
Shinta Budi Astuti ◽  
Rizki Ramadhan Putra Yasa

Abstrak   Kemuning adalah desa di kecamatan Ngargoyoso, Kabupaten Karanganyar, Provinsi Jawa Tengah. Secara geografis batas Desa Kemuning  sebelah barat berbatasan dengan Desa Ngargoyoso, sebelah timur berbatasan dengan Desa Segoro Gunung, sebelah Utara  berbatasan Kecamatan Jenawi dan sebelah selatan berbatasan Desa Girimulyo. Desa ini memiliki Misi yang ingin diwujudkan  yaitu Desa Wisata. Pemerintah setempat  memberikan pelatihan untuk membuat produk inovatif guna melengkapi kebutuhan sebagai desa wisata kepada pelaku UMKM dan Penrajin. Produk Inovatif tersebut akan dijual kepada pengunjung wisata sebagai oleh-oleh. Akan tetapi pelaku UMKM dan Penrajin memiliki kelemahan pembukuan usaha terlebih lagi dalam penetuan biaya produksi produk inovatif. Mereka hanya memperhitungkan biaya bahan baku sebagai komponen biaya produksi.   Tim pengabdian FEB Universitas melaksanakan pengabdian  untuk memberikan materi mengenai konsep perhitungan biaya produksi yang dilakukan dengan interaktif.     Kata Kunci: Desa Kemuning, Harga Pokok Poduksi, Smart Village   Abstract:  Kemuning Villages is one of the villages located in Ngargoyoso district, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java Province. Geographically, Kemuning Village is bordered to the west by Ngargoyoso Village, to the east by Segoro Gunung Village, to the north by Jenawi District and to the south by Girimulyo Village. Kemuning village has a mission to be realized, namely the Tourism Village. The local government provides training to make innovative products to complement the needs of a tourism village for MSMEs and craftsmen. These innovative products will be sold to tourist visitors as souvenirs. However, SMEs and craftsmen have weaknesses in business bookkeeping, especially in determining the cost of producing innovative products. They only take into account the cost of raw materials as a component of production costs. The Team from FEB University Pancasila carried out the service to provide material on the concept of calculating production costs which was carried out interactively.     Keywords: Desa Kemuning, Cost of Good Sold, Smart Village


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esperanza Arnés ◽  
Carlos G. H. Díaz-Ambrona ◽  
Omar Marín-González ◽  
Marta Astier

Farmer field schools (FFSs) emerged in response to the gap left by the worldwide decline in agricultural extension services. With time, this methodology has been adapted to specific rural contexts to solve problems related to the sustainability of peasant-farming systems. In this study we draw upon empirical data regarding the peasant-farming system in the Nicaraguan highlands to evaluate whether FFSs have helped communities improve the sustainability of their systems and the food security of their residents using socioeconomic, environmental, and food and nutrition security (FNS) indicators. In order to appreciate the long-term impact, we studied three communities where FFSs were implemented eight, five, and three years ago, respectively, and we included participants and nonparticipants from each community. We found that FFSs have a gradual impact, as there are significant differences between participants and nonparticipants, and it is the community that first implemented FFSs that scores highest. The impact of FFSs is broad and long lasting for indicators related to participation, access to basic services, and conservation of natural resources. Finally, this paper provides evidence that FFSs have the potential to empower farmers; however, more attention needs to be paid to critical indicators like production costs and the use of external inputs in order to scale up their potential in the future.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document