Wood Energy Potential in Washington State. Chuck Hersey Forest Health Planner Washington State Department of Natural Resources April 2015

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1 Wood Energy Potential in Washington State Chuck Hersey Forest Health Planner Washington State Department of Natural Resources April 2015

2 The Problem -Dense Forests -Altered species composition

3 Leads to severe wildfires and insect outbreaks Colockum Tarp Fire, Kittitas County. Lodgepole pine killed by the mountain pine beetle. Loomis State Forest, Okanogan County.

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5 Recommendations -Thin stands to reduce tree densities and promote fire-resistant tree species. Less of dense, stressed forests More of well-spaced, resilient forests

6 Why Wood Energy? Significant cost savings compared to oil or propane Less price volatility Proven technology Fuel dollars circulate in local economy Air quality is improved vs slash piles/wildfires Carbon neutral/renewable energy source Improve forest health/reduce wildfire risk

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11 Commercial-Scale Wood Energy System Examples Pellet and wood chip boilers have been installed across the globe to heat homes, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, etc MMBtu/hr wood chip boiler system, $500,000 capital investment, South Park School, Fairplay, Colorado completed in Source: Community Biomass Handbook, USDA Forest Service

12 Sullivan County Nursing Home and Jail CHP chip system, heats 300,000 sq ft 1,900 tons of wood chips/year 10 year payback $250K fuel savings

13 Pembroke Academy, NH Chip system, heats 226,000 sq ft

14 Oakridge Elementary School, Oregon Pellet system, heats 49,000 square feet $20,000 fuel savings/year Reduced oil consumption by 90% Energy savings performance contract guarantees savings. Non-attainment area for particulates, pollution control equipment limits particulate emissions.

15 Harney County District Hospital, OR Pellet system, heats 55,000 square feet 3 year payback period 100 tons of pellets/year Highly automated system, low maintenance Compact size Hospital pellet system occupies four parking spaces. Harney District Hospital.

16 Forks, WA: Logging Capital of the World! And home of a wood chip boiler! -Wood chip boiler heats Forks middle and high schools. -53,000 square feet -1,000 tons of chips per year -$75K/yr fuel savings -Project started from need to dispose of wood waste with low impacts on air quality.

17 District Heating: Sweden District heating represents about 60% of heating in Sweden. Wood provides about 50% of the energy used in Swedish district heating systems. Mullsjo, Sweden converted their oil district heating system to wood pellets. A year after installation, oil consumption was reduced by 75%. Biomass Energy Resource Center.

18 Potential Wood Energy Sites in WA Wood energy can make sense for facilities: On oil or propane High heat loads Reducing carbon emissions is a high priority

19 Potential Wood Energy Sites in WA Types of facilities can include: Schools Colleges Hospitals Public buildings Hotels and motels Commercial buildings Greenhouses Large-scale agricultural operations Food processing facilities Manufacturing plants

20 K-12 School Densified Biomass Demo Project $500K in state funds for installation of pellet boilers at two WA schools. WSU study found 108 schools in WA that use fuel oil or propane as primary heat source. Tekoa High School and Darrington Senior/Middle School Complex were chosen to participate in wood pellet pilot project. Onsite evaluations and feasibility studies currently in progress for both schools.

21 Central Washington University 5 MW CHP wood biomass system. Severe forest health and wildfire risks in region. University has ambitious carbon reduction goals. Biomass system would reduce campus carbon emission by 28,000 tons/yr. System would consume 90,000 green tons/yr. Conceptual design for 5MW CHP wood biomass system at Central Washington University.

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24 Wood Energy Concerns Air quality: Wood has higher particulate emissions than oil or gas. Quality: Wood chips are more variable than other fuels. Supply: Need to ensure local suppliers are available for chips. Operation/Maintenance Costs: Wood systems typically have higher operation and maintenance costs than fossil fuel systems.

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26 Forest Biomass and Renewable Energy: Potential Feedstocks Slash: tops, limbs and foliage Potential Supply 1.5 million BDT* 68.4 MM gallons of jet fuel/yr (NARA) By-products of commercial harvests, usually burned or left to rot, currently little utilization.

27 Forest Biomass and Renewable Energy: Potential Feedstocks Fuel Reduction Treatments: small-diameter trees Non-commercial treatments, currently little utilization of biomass.

28 Forest Biomass and Renewable Energy: Potential Feedstocks Forest product industries (sawmills) waste wood: sawdust, planer shavings, bark, etc By-products of forest industry manufacturing processes, vast majority is utilized for pulp, energy and other products (4MM BDT)

29 Sustainability and Biomass Harvesting -Woody biomass retained on site serves key ecological functions such as wildlife habitat, water retention, soil organic carbon and nutrient storage and retention. -Woody biomass immediately following a timber harvest will always add to pre-existing levels. -Studies on the impact of biomass removal on forest productivity have suggested little to no effect on soil productivity.

30 WA Statewide Wood Energy Team (SWET) Membership includes representatives from the following organizations:

31 Wood Energy Team Grant -Feasibility studies, outreach and technical assistance. -Wood energy assessment of public facilities. -Regional wood energy workshops -Work with local stakeholders -Goal is to have six systems planned and three built during project (three years). -Eastern WA is a focus of the project.

32 Contact Chuck Hersey WA Dept. of Natural Resources