This is a brief description of studies that exemplify the methods and approaches that have been developed and used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers in conducting integrated assessments. See the complete list of Integrated Assessment Briefs to find out more about ORNL's efforts in integrated assessment. Contact Mike Farrell (farrellmp@ornl.gov) for more information.

Supply of Short Rotation Woody Crop Biomass to the Watts Bar Power Facility

Watts Bar cost supply curves show the effect of commodity programs.

What might be a good case study model to evaluate the potential of short rotation woody crops as a fuel source in the Watts Bar facility location in eastern Tennessee? What are restrictions on resources surrounding the plant as defined in terms of supply, price, transportation costs, and land availability? Are there important environmental impacts because of land conversion in this area?

A regional linear programming model was developed for this study that includes the variables in the questions above. The model incorporates current agricultural possibilities in the region along with the proposed short rotation woody crop production. Environmental issues including erosion, chemical usage, and potential leaching are also incorporated within the modeling framework.

Output from the model provides information on where and what types of land should move from current agricultural land use to biomass production.

Further analysis was conducted by comparing scenarios with a 300,000-ton per year biomass constraint production requirement. The analysis demonstrates a methodology that has the potential of addressing regional or local concerns with respect to biomass supply. It demonstrates the potential in supplying power conversion facilities of alternative sizes. The methodology can provide environmental impacts of the changes likely to occur to the landscape surrounding the facility.

Alexander, R., B. English, M. Bhat, and R. Graham. 1993. Evaluating the economics of biomass energy production in the Watts Bar region. pp. 272-277. In Proceedings of the First Biomass Conference of the Americas, Vol. I. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Co.

Graham, R. L., B. C. English, R. R. Alexander, and M. G. Bhat. 1992. Biomass fuel costs predicted for east Tennessee power plant. Biologue 10(1):23-26.

Where To?

[ Next Brief | Section 5 | Table of Contents for ORNL Integrated Assessment Briefs ]

Integrated Assessment Briefs. 1995. ORNL/M-4227. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.