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Pine Valley Biochar – Demonstration Plant

Pine Valley Biochar – Demonstration Plant. Eric Twombly Pine Valley Biochar Investment Group Halfway, OR 541-742-6707. US Forest Service. Fuels Reduction Tons Burned 2008 Est. 100 Million + US Wide Fuels Reduction Tons /Acre 10 to 40 Tons Typical Tons burned In Wildfires

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Pine Valley Biochar – Demonstration Plant

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  1. Pine Valley Biochar – Demonstration Plant Eric Twombly Pine Valley Biochar Investment Group Halfway, OR 541-742-6707

  2. US Forest Service Fuels Reduction Tons Burned 2008 Est. 100 Million + US Wide Fuels Reduction Tons /Acre 10 to 40 Tons Typical Tons burned In Wildfires Est. 1.5 Gt/yr Burned

  3. The Majority of these Fuels are Burned • Amounts of 3 to 300 Tons Per acre are burned. • This process produces Greenhouse gasses the could be prevented. • The Forest Fuels could be used as biochar, carbon negative fuel (biooil) and soil amendmets could be produced.

  4. Greenhouse Gas • All of these above Wildfires and Fuels Treatment burning produce greenhouse gasses. • Currently burning is the best tradeoff since wildfires would produce vastly more greenhouse gasses than treatment burns. • Utilizing the fuels treatment biomass to produce biochar and bio-oil would allow for increased forest fuels reduction reducing wildfire and allowing for increased fuels reduction acres treated.

  5. Wildfire Wildfire in 2035

  6. Fuels ReductionBrush & Slash

  7. Fuels ReductionThinning

  8. Thin Now, Wildfire in 2035 Thinning Reduces Wildfires

  9. Objective of Pine Valley Demonstration Demonstrate an industry that utilizes forest fuels and reduces output of greenhouse gasses. Demonstrate an industry that produces carbon negative heating oil Provide char amendment to soils to improve local farmland Demonstrate a small scale scalable industry for local economic development in small rural communities Demonstrate biochar industry can provide living wage jobs in small rural communities

  10. A variety of wood waste products are produced in Forest Fuel Reduction “Logs – Rotten or small logs can be efficiently haul to biochar plant sites” “ Small wood can be converted into chips such as Limbs, roots, brush to haul to plant sites” “Duff or Leaves can be removed if in excess for soil cover can be hauled to plant sites.”

  11. Local Non-National Forest Feedstock are Usually Available • Local Farm & Ranch Organic Waste • Local yard and clearing waste • Slash from Local Private Timber Lands

  12. Rural Communities near National Forests have poor Economies • Can the use of Forest Fuels that need to be removed reinvigorate these economies. • Forest fuels available for extraction are variable. • A Biochar plant needs to be scalable and portable to best react to change in available excess fuels

  13. Farming & Ranching in the Same Communities • Most Communities near National Forests also have farms and ranches. • There is potetntial to utilize biochar to improve soil on these local farms and ranches. • There is potenital to reduce costs and improve profitability of small family farms & ranches

  14. Biochar Plant Scalability • Feedstock availabilty must be analyzed to limit risk. • Pine Valley estimate is for 10 Dry Ton Per Day Unit. • Range of profitability is from 3 DTPD and above is profitable at estimated product prices.

  15. Pine Valley Biochar Site

  16. Simple Product Mix • Biochar – Delivered by the ton or in bags to garden stores & nurseries. • $200/ton Bulk • $300/ton bagged • BioOil – Stabilized ½ BTU's of Petroleum Heating oil. • $1.75/gallon

  17. Local Economy • 10 DTPD plant at full production. Direct & Indirect Jobs • 12 Family wage jobs 3 shifts at the plant • 10 to 12 Seasonal organic matter harvesting. • Support Jobs mechanics, etc

  18. Biochar is Viable • 1500 Dtons/yr 5 Jobs $45,000 Profit • 2750 Dtons/yr 7 Jobs $132,000 Profit • 4450 Dtons/yr 12 Jobs $463,000 Profit

  19. Current BioChar/BioOil Science Issues • Char application to various soils/expected response. • Char production can be modified to meet specific soil needs such as pH what is needed. • BioOil stabilization and refining to produce a variety of products.

  20. Current Search for Biochar Plant • Biochar plant producers have few or no actual plants in production. • Biochar plant producers may not be able to provide details and examples of chars and biooils produced. • Experience producing viable/scaleable plants is very limited at this time.

  21. Considerations in Selecting a Plant • Portability/Quick Relocation • Scalability for Feedstock Availability • Quick Startup/ Flexibility of Operation • Independent Operation • Efficiency of Operation • Cost • Maintenance Cost

  22. Will work best in Small Rural Areas Small rural towns have a difficult time maintaining local industries since most industries become more efficient if scaled up. Biochar is perfect for small scale since the feedstocks are bulky and low value. It is most efficient to produce biochar close to the feedstock source.

  23. Conclusions • Biochar could take National Forest Waste fuels and utilize them in a carbon negative and economically viable products • Local small town economies could be improved, jobs & related businesses • BioOil and Biochar could be used locally and provide value. • The Pine Valley Biochar Demonstration will test these conclusions in the next few years

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