ABSTRACT
The feasible conversion of biomass into an energy resource or value added product is determined in part by the ability to develop efficient and economical processes that harvest, collect, and store biomass feedstocks. This chapter discusses the steps that are encountered in a biomass supply chain, and important considerations that must be addressed when designing a logistics network. It describes potential systems that can be included in a biomass supply chain network. The chapter also describes how these systems operate and providing some information about the parameters required for successful operation, and discusses the criteria for evaluating systems. Because logistics plays an important role in the economics for the biomass producer, the conversion process, and the consumer, it is important to understand how a logistics system is analyzed. The volume of material moved, rate of movement, and cost associated with the movement are the important parameters to focus on rather than the design criteria used to conceive a specific machine.
