Wood Use Projections for U.S. Pellets, Bioenergy Rise
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Forisk Consulting, Athens, Ga., USA, has announced the availability of Wood Bioenergy US (WBUS), a publication that tracks, screens, and analyzes the U.S. wood bioenergy sector. This issue's feature article compares estimates of wood-to-energy conversions from industry and academic research across wood energy types—pellets, ethanol, and electricity.
Findings on wood pellets and electricity production suggest that 10% to 20% more green wood is needed per unit of output than often reported or assumed in previous projections. Revised conversion rates for pellets and electricity/CHP projects resulted in wood use projections that are 9% (10.7 million tons) higher by 2023 for total wood use from bioenergy and 9% (7.0 million tons) higher for volumes that pass screening criteria. Available research confirms the existing conversions applied to liquid fuel projects.
The June/July/August free summary of Wood Bioenergy US is now available online.
According to the report, as of August 2014:
- WBUS includes 448 wood-consuming, announced, and operating bioenergy projects in the continental U.S.
- In total, these projects represent potential wood use of 135.6 million green tons/year by 2023
- Based on Forisk analysis, projects representing only 88.0 million tpy pass basic viability screening.
