Biomass Energy Feedstock Prices
While there are many factors influencing the value of an energy feedstock, such as ease of conversion and transport, a comparison of the price of energy content provides a baseline. With that starting point, cost impacts of transportation, expense of conversion, and value of products can be applied for particular economic calculations. While biomass generally varies from 7,000 to 9,000 btu/dry-lb, an average of 8,000 btu/dry-lb was used for this comparison. Referring to the table, to get the same energy value as $40/ton biomass, natural gas would need to be priced at $2.50/dekatherm, heating oil would need to be priced at $0.35/gallon and propane $0.23/gallon. It is easily observable that there is significant economic potential for utilizing biomass in comparison with competing energy sources.
Equivalent Prices Based on Energy Content
Biomass $/dry ton |
Natural Gas $/decatherm |
Heating Oil $/gallon |
Propane $/gallon |
20 |
1.25 |
0.17 |
0.11 |
30 |
1.88 |
0.26 |
0.17 |
40 |
2.50 |
0.35 |
0.23 |
50 |
3.13 |
0.43 |
0.29 |
60 |
3.75 |
0.52 |
0.34 |
70 |
4.38 |
0.61 |
0.40 |
Biomass Availability
An extensive study was conducted by Oak Ridge National Lab to estimate the availability of various biomass feedstocks at specific price breaks by state. This table is the combined estimated availability of forest residues, primary mill residues, agricultural residues, energy crops, and urban wood wastes. Though the price ranges need to be adjusted 23% for inflation since the report was published in 1999, the study effectively shows significant availability at economical prices. Please see the report online for more details: Oak Ridge Biomass Report.
< $20/dry ton |
< $30/dry ton |
< $40/dry ton |
< $50/dry ton |
|
| Alabama | 840,566 |
6,962,610 |
10,712,357 |
17,681,689 |
| Arizona | 219,736 |
575,227 |
863,091 |
1,100,491 |
| Arkansas | 402,364 |
4,092,273 |
7,085,549 |
13,604,348 |
| California | 1,587,813 |
6,158,022 |
8,224,305 |
11,298,705 |
| Colorado | 180,661 |
651,769 |
3,356,589 |
3,581,889 |
| Connecticut | 246,938 |
560,563 |
610,563 |
906,309 |
| Deleware | 38,959 |
94,931 |
194,008 |
461,521 |
| Florida | 2,761,950 |
6,753,122 |
6,778,408 |
9,533,398 |
| Georgia | 934,094 |
6,390,823 |
8,540,684 |
16,111,675 |
| Idaho | 204,256 |
2,572,162 |
4,117,282 |
7,165,782 |
| Illinois | 435,047 |
1,038,411 |
26,838,517 |
33,359,162 |
| Indiana | 347,610 |
993,684 |
13,409,571 |
18,606,863 |
| Iowa | 173,802 |
404,337, |
24,582,843 |
32,786,037 |
| Kansas | 737,289 |
1,283,148 |
12,733,412 |
21,343,522 |
| Louisiana | 516,322 |
3,568,870 |
7,976,754 |
11,834,427 |
| Maine | 151,358 |
1,195,597 |
1,571,597 |
2,213,697 |
| Maryland | 204,643 |
543,071 |
899,539 |
1,959,222 |
| Massachusetts | 419,272 |
938,787 |
1,026,787 |
1,435,895 |
| Michigan | 505,734 |
2,468,224 |
4,627,235 |
12,163,103 |
| Minnesota | 990,517 |
2,916,529 |
15,493,892 |
21,247,327 |
| Mississippi | 598,831 |
4,908,719 |
10,673,390 |
17,930,978 |
| Missouri | 477,547 |
1,345,911 |
8,029,706 |
19,522,892 |
| Montana | 69,060 |
1,421,766 |
2,159,358 |
6,761,444 |
| Nebraska | 114,073 |
210,121 |
18,467,094 |
21,773,296 |
| Nevada | 184,112 |
314,853 |
333,203 |
336,603 |
| New Hampshire | 133,579 |
922,298 |
1,061,298 |
2,016,455 |
| New Jersey | 389,089 |
726,481 |
791,204 |
975,806 |
| New Mexico | 167,896 |
424,160 |
960,689 |
1,081,689 |
| New York | 1,168,080 |
3,328,133 |
3,884,648 |
8,438,083 |
| North Carolina | 669,035 |
4,188,056 |
5,789,513 |
10,855,777 |
| North Dakota | 326,510 |
558,184 |
2,506,662 |
21,043,177 |
| Ohio | 744,518 |
1,472,864 |
13,018,429 |
18,962,520 |
| Oklahoma | 111,173 |
3,83,692 |
7,816,207 |
12,699,956 |
| Oregon | 192,532 |
3,341,220 |
4,126,075 |
9,809,975 |
| Pennsylvania | 571,963 |
2,205,605 |
2,832,294 |
7,427,043 |
| Rhode Island | 29,803 |
80,671 |
87,671 |
115,514 |
| South Carolina | 1,293,900 |
4,468,833 |
6,332,258 |
9,368,065 |
| South Dakota | 113,982 |
285,637 |
9,601,746 |
16,005,411 |
| Tennessee | 878,029 |
3,381,715 |
10,720,281, |
15,232,952 |
| Texas | 1,227,449 |
4,221,749 |
13,526,432 |
20,747,118 |
| Utah | 158,765 |
388,275 |
647,821 |
722,821 |
| Vermont | 40,802 |
392,004 |
513,004 |
1,022,669 |
| Virginia | 599,454 |
3,058,757 |
5,055,411 |
8,714,941 |
| Washington | 297,432 |
3,979,387 |
5,938,641 |
9,920,241 |
| West Virginia | 241,236 |
1,361,393 |
1,971,651 |
3,736,487 |
| Wisconsin | 425,466 |
2,450,110 |
11,502,364 |
14,963,398 |
| Wyoming | 224,383 |
551,638 |
787,223 |
1,465,684 |
| U.S. Total | 23,820,338 |
105,496,557 |
314,535,067 |
510,855,005 |
