Potential opportunities to utilize mountain pine beetle-killed biomass as wood pellet feedstock in British Columbia

Abstract

The use of renewable forms of energy, such as bioenergy produced from wood pellets, can serve to offset fossil fuel use and, hence, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union is the world's largest user of wood pellets and British Columbia has been one of its largest external suppliers. British Columbia is currently grappling with the largest mountain pine beetle outbreak in its history. While this outbreak is expected to decrease the future timber supply in the Province, it has been suggested that one potential benefit of the mountain pine beetle outbreak is that it may provide a large amount of biomass that can be used for bioenergy production. Here we evaluate estimates of the amount of biomass available for bioenergy production in British Columbia and quantify the effects of the mountain pine beetle infestation on wood pellet feedstock supply chains. Our results, though subject to significant uncertainties, suggest that mountain pine beetle-killed wood is unlikely to be a substantial constituent of wood pellet feedstocks unless substantial subsidies are provided to offset higher harvesting costs. Even if such subsidies are implemented, it is likely that harvest residues will constitute an increasing proportion of wood pellet feedstocks as the volume of beetle-killed wood becomes depleted. Therefore, it is imperative that wood pellet producers improve the cost efficiency of harvest residue collection if they are to remain competitive in the European marketplace.Keywords: mountain pine beetle, bioenergy, wood pellets, greenhouse gas emissions, biomass feedstocks, Biomass Crop Assistance Program résumé L'utilisation des sources renouvelables d' énergie, comme la bioénergie produite à partir de granules de bois, pourrait se substituer à celle des combustibles fossiles et, de ce fait, réduire la production de gaz à effet de serre. L'Union européenne est le plus important utilisateur de granules de bois et la Colombie-Britannique est devenue l'un de ses plus importants fournisseurs étrangers. À l'heure actuelle, la Colombie-Britannique est aux prises avec la plus importante épidémies de dendroctone du pin de son histoire. Même si cette épidémie risque de diminuer à long terme la production de bois d' oeuvre de la province, on prétend que cette épidémie du dendroctone du pin pourrait en retour s'avérer profitable en libérant une très grande quantité de biomasse susceptible d' être utilisée à des fins de production de bioénergie. Dans cet article, nous avons estimé la quantité de biomasse potentiellement disponible pour la production de bioénergie en Colombie-Britannique et quantifié les effets de l' épidémie du dendroctone du pin sur les chaînes logistiques d'approvisionnement pour la production de granules de bois. Même s'ils sont empreints d'un certain niveau d'incertitude, nos résultats laissent entrevoir que le bois provenant d'arbres ravagés par le dendroctone du pin a peu de chances de représenter un élément important de l'approvisionnement pour les granules de bois, à moins que des subventio...

Harvesting the dead and decaying forests: Potential carbon storage in harvested wood products

“…The future availability of residues is, however, in jeopardy as BC enters the mid-term supply gap (MFLNRO 2012). With current pellet production capacity being accustomed to harvests in the annual allowable cut uplifts, pellet companies may well be faced with less economic whole-tree harvesting and chipping of harvest residues in the future (Lloyd et al 2014). Our study looked at whole-tree harvesting of these stands (scenario 2) and found that pellets can contribute significant C emissions if forest management in BC is not meeting C-neutral forestry.…”

“…The fate of timber in these two cases greatly affects the release of C following the harvest of MPB stands. While pre-outbreak stands were traditionally harvested for lumber, the expected degradation in MPB wood quality has many looking to expand its use as a feedstock for softwood pellet production (Lloyd et al 2014). Pellets provide a renewable source of energy and a reduction in fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Biomass Supply Chains: The Case of the Canadian Wood Pellet Industry

“…Canada's forest sector was affected by the drastic changes in demand for forest products over the course of the pandemic, a trend also observed in the United States [6]. Although the Canadian forest sector is well acquainted with market shocks and had taken steps to mitigate anticipated risks [7,8], it was unclear how exactly the sector would be affected at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these impacts would spill over Energies 2022, 15, 3179 2 of 18 into related industries. Early analysis of forest-related industries suggests varied experience; despite initial slowdowns, the lumber industry experienced a boom as consumers invested in home improvement projects, while the decline in the pulp and paper industry accelerated as demand for office printing supplies decreased [3].…”

Carbon budget of forest products harvested from mountain pine beetle-attacked forests in the Prince George region

“…This scenario reflects growing scientific curiosity (Lamers et al 2014, Lloyd et al 2014), claims by government and industry (EMPR 2007(EMPR , 2008; BC Hydro 2012), concerns of non-governmental organizations (Nikiforuk 2011, Greenpeace 2011, RSPB 2012, and in some cases, actual practice.…”

“…The designation of SFM is thought to be legitimatized through its SFM certification process. This negates the fact, however, that SFM certification programs have failed to incorporate global C cycles and climate change as part of their criteria and indicators for SFM designation (Tittler et al 2001, Lloyd et al 2014.…”