title: Analysing biomass torrefaction supply chain costs.
abstract: The objective of the present work was to develop a techno-economic system model to evaluate how logistics and production parameters affect the torrefaction supply chain costs under Swedish conditions. The model consists of four sub-models: (1) supply system, (2) a complete energy and mass balance of drying, torrefaction and densification, (3) investment and operating costs of a green field, stand-alone torrefaction pellet plant, and (4) distribution system to the gate of an end user. The results show that the torrefaction supply chain reaps significant economies of scale up to a plant size of about 150-200 kiloton dry substance per year (ktonDS/year), for which the total supply chain costs accounts to 31.8 euro per megawatt hour based on lower heating value (€/MWhLHV). Important parameters affecting total cost are amount of available biomass, biomass premium, logistics equipment, biomass moisture content, drying technology, torrefaction mass yield and torrefaction plant capital expenditures (CAPEX).
authors.affiliation: Division of Logistics and Transportation, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden. martin.svanberg@chalmers.se
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svanberg
authors.forename: Ingemar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flodén
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordin
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels
keywords: Logistics; Pre-treatment; Supply chain; System analysis; Torrefaction