Economical sustainability of SRF silvicultural systems

Main objectives

The main objective was to evaluate the economic sustainability of SRF systems for renewable wood energy generation by investigating the operational cost of the methods used to mobilise this resource.

Tasks

• T.3.1. SRF biomass supply chains.
  A review of SRF supply chains is being conducted to evaluate the use of cut to length harvesting, integrated harvesting, residue bundling, whole tree harvesting using skidding and terrain chipping, and chippers to produce panel board quality chip in the forest.
  
  
• T.3.2. Management operations efficiency.
  A survey of potential SRF markets is being conducted, including interviews of wood purchasers in the energy, panel board and sawmill sectors. 
  A simulation study is being conducted to estimate operational efficiency. Statistical models from national and international studies of SRF operations are being sourced and are going to be used for determining operational efficiency and costs. These models will allow for the inputs of Yield Class and supply chain system choices, extraction distance, etc.
  
  
• T.3.3. Financial sensitivity analysis.
  A financial model will be completed and used to carry out sensitive analysis of parameters that may affect the supply chain.
  
  

Dissemination

• See Shortfor Project - Work Package 5 

Contacts

• Tom Kent: tkent@wit.ie 
• Enda Coates: ecoates@wit.ie 
• Ana de Miguel: anademimu@gmail.com