Logistics for straw fuels

A problem with straw fuels, i.e. straw, energy grass and hemp, is that the logistics costs are high. Of the total fuel costs for straw, approx. 80% arise from logistics-related operations (harvesting, handling, transport and storage), while for energy grass and hemp around 60% of the costs derive from these operations. The aim of this project was to develop strategies to lower the logistics costs for large-scale supply of straw fuels to thermal power stations/combined power and heating plants.

The project had a systems perspective, where the entire chain from harvesting, storage and handling at the thermal power station was studied. A dynamic discrete event simulation model was used as a tool in the analysis. The influence of new types of balers and machine co-ordination was examined, among other things.