BioLog II - Interregional Logistics- and Procurement Network for Forest Fuel in Austria

A concept for a cooperative forest fuel supply chain network for two regions of Austria is developed in order to minimise total system costs while simultaneously increasing supply guarantee for the plants. With results from previous projects and import data a concept for whole Austria is developed.

Short Description

Status

ongoing

Summary

New regulations on bio energy fuel in Austria lead to tremendous increasing demand on forest fuel. A considerable number of new bio energy plants have been established during the last years. Due to that trend new strategies to guarantee the fuel supply of these plants must be developed. In a first step the regional available forest fuel is calculated by considering both harvesting and spatial restrictions and compared with expected demand. In designing the optimal system structure it is essential where to locate what kind of supply nodes for forest fuel. The supply nodes collect, store, chip and deliver forest fuels to bio energy plants.

In principle two different system structures for chipping are considered. The first option is chipping with an industrial chipper, which is also used for material preparing in wood panel production. The huge capacities of this chipper could ensure the supply of great parts of the region. In a second option mobile chippers are analyzed that serve distinctive storage locations supplying several heating plants. For given demand and supply volumes we figure out the optimum supply network by considering transport, chipping and overall system costs.

Depending on distance both for incoming and outgoing forest fuels we compare the system costs of both options. For mobile chipping the regional asynchronous supply and demand curves are taken into account to dimension the required forest fuel storage area. The calculation model serves as a decision basis where to build regional forest fuel supply nodes.

The results of the project BioLog II together with the existing results from the project BioLog I will help in designing and initiating pilot- and demonstration projects in the area of planning of logistics networks for bio-based fuel supply (forest or agricultural).

Project Partners

Project manager

Univ.Prof.Mag.Dr. Manfred Gronalt
Universität für Bodenkultur

Project partners

FunderMax GmbH
Maschinenring Tirol, MR-Service Tirol reg. Gen.m.b.H.
Landwirtschaftskammer Tirol
Landwirtschaftskammer Vorarlberg

further cooperation partners:

Hasslacher Drauland Holzindustrie GmbH
Landwirtschaftskammer Kärnten
Fritz Egger GmbH & Co.

Contact Address

Universität für Bodenkultur
Department für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften
Institut für Produktionswirtschaft und Logistik

Univ.Prof.Mag.Dr. Manfred Gronalt
Tel.: +43 (1) 47654 4411
Fax: +43 (1) 47654 4417
E-Mail: manfred.gronalt@boku.ac.at