The Role of Wood Storage in Reducing Fossil Fuel Consumption in Forestry Operations: A Sustainable Approach

Antonio Jose Vinha Zanuncio (), Vinícius Resende de Castro, Raiana Augusta Grandal Savino Barbosa, Amélia Guimarães Carvalho, Shoraia Germani Winter, Olivia Pereira Lopes, Roberta Barbosa Morais, Dandara Paula Silva Guimarães, Angélica de Cássia Oliveira Carneiro, Alvaro Augusto Vieira Soares, Solange de Oliveira Araujo and Jean Alberto Sampietro
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Antonio Jose Vinha Zanuncio: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38408-100, Brazil
Vinícius Resende de Castro: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
Raiana Augusta Grandal Savino Barbosa: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
Amélia Guimarães Carvalho: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38408-100, Brazil
Shoraia Germani Winter: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38408-100, Brazil
Olivia Pereira Lopes: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38408-100, Brazil
Roberta Barbosa Morais: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38408-100, Brazil
Dandara Paula Silva Guimarães: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
Angélica de Cássia Oliveira Carneiro: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
Alvaro Augusto Vieira Soares: Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38408-100, Brazil
Solange de Oliveira Araujo: Centro de Estudos Florestais, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Jean Alberto Sampietro: Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Estadual de Santa Catarina, Lages 88520-000, Brazil

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Forest operations consume a large amount of fossil fuels. Storing wood in the field reduces the weight of the wood, optimizing transportation and reducing fuel consumption. However, there are few studies linking these variables. The objective was to evaluate the drying of logs with different diameters and assess the fossil fuel consumption considering the mass of dry wood transported. Eucalyptus logs were divided into two diameter classes: 6 ≤ D1 ≤ 11 cm and 11.1 ≤ D2 ≤ 14 cm. These logs were arranged in a stack, divided into base, intermediate, and top positions, and subjected to drying. The wood moisture values were correlated with the amount of transported dry wood, fuel consumption, and costs. These calculations were based on a vehicle with a load capacity of 41.6 Mg, a fuel consumption rate of 1.82 L/km, and a road cost of 0.51 R$·Mg −1 ·km −1 . The moisture content was lower in smaller-diameter logs located at the top of the storage stack and higher in larger-diameter logs in the intermediate position and in both diameter classes at the bottom position after 365 days of drying. Storage for 365 days, on average, increased the dry wood transport capacity by 90%, resulting in similar gains in fuel economy and the final cost of transportation. Storing wood outdoors has proven effective in reducing its moisture content, resulting in lower fossil fuel consumption during forestry operations, reducing environmental impact, and generating economic gains.

Keywords: bioenergy; fossil fuels emission; wood drying; wood moisture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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