Biomass and Bioenergy

The Savannah River Short Rotation Cooperative Research Project has supported development of bioenergy for the southeastern US. The main effort is to promote expansion of markets. We have supported hazard fuel reduction efforts on the Francis Marion National Forest where biomass is now being taken to a nearby mill for power production. We are working with the South Carolina Biomass Council to promote the use of biomass for bioenergy and other bio-based products. We have also supported the decision by Savannah River Site officials to replace an older less efficient coal-fired boilers with biomass-fired units to provide processing steam to site operations at a considerable cost savings to the government. The biomass fuel will be supplied by residue from on-site forestry operations as well as woody energy crops grown specifically for use as boiler fuel.

These market development efforts will enhance demand for biomass and provide opportunities for growers to produce feedstock as energy crops. New uses for marginal farmland will enhance the diversity of farm products available to landowners and thereby enhance rural development. To promote such development, the SRWC Co-op is installing research demonstration plantings of high density pine plantations at the Savannah River Site. High-density pine stands will reach land carrying capacity within 10 years and take full advantage of the advanced state of forestry operations developed for pine timber production in the Southeast US.

Woody perennial energy crops also include fast-growing hardwood tree species such as sweetgum, sycamore, poplar, willow and eucalyptus. The SRWC Co-op has shown the high production potential of these crops for energy feedstock purposes and is working with the US Department of Energy to identify opportunities for hardwood tree species. Hardwood stands can be grown to high stature trees at low tree spacing for harvest with conventional forestry equipment, or grown at to smaller size at high density and harvested frequently with newly developed equipment to take advantage of the coppicing (stump sprouting) ability of these trees.