PRODUCTION COSTS OF FOREST CHIPS FROM ENERGY WOOD STAND GROWING ON CUTOVER PEATLAND

摘要

Including water and nutrient balance the growth conditions of the harvested test site were good. Because of this the volume of growing stock (birch thicket) at the test site was exceptionally high, 155 m~3/ha (138-171 m~3/ha). The share of commercial wood (pulp wood) varied from 57 to 68 -% of the total volume of trunk wood in each test sections. The mean value was 100 m~3/ha. In this study all the earthy wood biomass (without leaves and stumps) was harvested as wood fuel. The amount of harvested yield on an average was 200 m~3/ha (156 t/ha). In March 2004 the stumpage price of commercial birch pulpwood was around 12 ?/m~3. In this case the incomes from commercial pulp wood would have been 1200 ?/ha. If a forest owner wants to get the same price per hectare making wood fuel, the price of the forest chips delivered to the district heating plant will have to be 15-16 ?/ MWh. The production chain causes the changes in price (manual or harvester felling). This price is quite competitive; when the compared fuel is heavy fuel oil. The consumer price of heavy fuel oil at the end of 2003 was 24 ?/MWh. Thus, the possible end-use facility would be a small (1 -5 MWh) municipal district heating plant.