A web accessible biomass site assessment model Biomass Site Assessment Tool (BioSAT), 2010 TAPPI PEERS Conference

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Key to ensuring long-term, sustainable cellulose supply is the assessment of the economic availability of woody and agricultural-derived biomass feedstocks. The genesis for any emerging or existing industry is the ability to successfully secure commercial business loans with a defendable business plan for the expansion of existing plants or development of new manufacturing facilities. A key component of any business plan must include a profitable strategy for the geographic location of a cellulose using facility. This study addresses the problem with the development of web-based system for optimal siting of cellulose using mills called the Biomass Site Assessment Tool (BioSAT), www.BioSAT.net.

The project integrates contemporary web-based information technology (e.g., Virtual Earth and Microsoft SQL) with existing U.S. Forest Service FIA data, agricultural residue USDA NASS data and estimates harvesting and transportation costs for these residue and merchantable feedstocks. BioSAT data are periodically updated. BioSAT generates total costs, average total costs, and marginal cost curves for user-selected zip code tabulation areas (ZCTAs). Cost estimates can also be generated for all ZCTAs within a state. BioSAT estimates are available for the 33 Eastern United States. The purpose of the TAPPI workshop is to make potential clientele more familiar with the features of BioSAT. A detailed overview of the features and models of BioSAT will be presented at the workshop. Also, hands on demonstrations and interaction with the BioSAT website tool will be available to workshop participants.