Supply chain main operations

$/dt

Generalized cost equation C = $/dt

Harvest and stack bales

23.70

$C=25.65R^{-0.397}{Y}^{-0.507}$

R = fraction removed, Y = yield (dt/ha)

Preprocessing (size reduction, densification, on farm storage)

35.06

$C=\frac{0.3\times {10}^{-4}Pi+40.58}{Y}$

Y is throughput of the pelletizer (dt/h)

Biomass transport from farm to the hub (grain truck)

6.14

$C=\frac{0.06D\left[\left(15.24G+4.08\right)Ln\left(Q\right)-9.48G+17.84\right]}{Q}$

D = distance (km); G is diesel price ($/L)

Q is volume of the truck (m³), Assumptions: bulk density 0.65 tonne/m³, average speed 50 km/h

Receiving, elevating, and load out at the hub

16.53

$13.79/dt for corn to $22.23/dt for screenings

Storage at the hub

0.10

$0.09/dt for corn to $0.12/dt for screenings

Rail transport from hub to biorefinery

4.56

$C=4.50+0.0336L$

L is in km

Total logistics cost ($/dt)

86.09