Biotech Updates

Effect of Regional Weather Patterns on Biomass Feedstock Harvest Systems

September 30, 2011
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http://asae.frymulti.com/abstract.asp?aid=37282&t=1http://www.thebioenergysite.com/news/9599/weather-impacts-biomass-production

Researchers from the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), University of Illinois (United States) recently investigated the effect of regional weather patterns on the development and evaluation of biomass feedstock harvest systems. Since agricultural operations are weather dependent, weather can significantly impact the feedstock production as well as subsequent storage and supply activities.

In their study, the researchers determined the effect of weather on the harvest systems through the inclusion of the probability of working day (PWD) parameter in the BioFeed modeling framework (i.e. an existing mathematical model that determines the best production system for energy crops and  provides decision support to farmers). The PWD is defined as the fraction of days in a specific period that are suitable for field operations, and its value depends on a number of weather-related parameters, such as rainfall, snow depth, soil temperature, and soil moisture content.

Using the PWD-incorporated BioFeed framework,the researchers conducted model simulations for Miscanthus (a potential biomass feedstock (grass) for biofuel production) plantations located in Illinois. Based from the results, the researchers found that incorporating weather effects on the model through PWD increases the cost of harvesting and decreases the biorefinery capacity in a given region. In the case of Illinois, with an average winter PWD of 35%, they found that the total operating cost increased by 38% and the biofuel capacity decreased by 45%. For the total operating cost, its increase could be offset by an increase in machinery; however, it would result to an increase in capital cost of 34%. These results, according to the researchers, emphasized that the consideration of weather impacts on farm productivity is extremely important when considering system design and operations. The full paper is published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (URL above).