Biomass Feasibility Project Final Report - Xcel Energy

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Barge hauling to storage plant ($/T/mi) for large square bales is based on a barge
with 768 bales or 619 tons per barge and barge rate from Winona to the Twin
Cities of $6400 per barge.
Barge hauling to storage plant($/T/mi) for large round bales is based on a
barge with 384 bales or 272 tons per barge and barge rate from Winona to the
Twin Cities of $6400 per barge.
Truck loading at storage ($/T) of bales includes labor costs of $1.125 per bale and
loader costs of $1.152 per bale for a total of $2.277 per bale or $3.221 per ton.
Rail and barge loading at storage ($/T) of bales includes labor costs of $1.375 per
bale and loader costs of $1.152 per bale for a total of $2.527 per bale or $3.574
per ton. Siding costs are not included. Rail takes 3 times as long to load because
of the need to move bales longer distances and because loading can only be
done from one side.
o Truck unloading of bales at the plant ($/T) for trucks was assumed to take .5
minutes per bale plus 20% overhead at a labor rate of $15 per hour for a cost of
$.15 a bale. It was assumed that the capital cost of unloading equipment is
included in plant costs.
o Rail and barge unloading of bales at the plant ($/T) was assumed to take 1.5
minutes per bale plus .1 minute overhead at a labor rate of $15 per hour for a
cost of $.40 a bale. It was assumed that the capital cost of unloading
equipment is included in plant costs.
Feedstock Specific Assumptions
Barley Straw
• Inventory/Availability
o Barley straw was assumed to be 90% of the as reported weight of barley grain.
Barley straw was assumed to have 10% moisture and was converted to dry tons.
Switchgrass/Other Hay
• Inventory/Availability
o Other hay as reported was assumed to have 12% moisture and was converted to
dry tons.
Wheat Straw
• Inventory/Availability
o Wheat straw was assumed to be 90% of the as reported weight of wheat grain.
Wheat straw was assumed to have 16% moisture and was converted to dry tons.
Corn Stover
• Inventory/Availability
o Dry corn stalk residue was estimated to be 85% of the computed weight of dry
corn grain.
Sunflower Stalks
• Inventory/Availability
o Sunflower stalks were assumed to be 90% of the as reported weight of sunflower
seeds. Sunflower stalks were assumed to have 10% moisture and were converted
to dry tons.
Page D-2
Identifying Effective Biomass Strategies:
Quantifying Minnesota’s Resources and Evaluating Future Opportunities