SUPPLY LOGISTICS MODELLING FOR LARGE-SCALE BIOMASS USERS

Satellite terminals are part of the supply logistics for large-scale biomass use. Since they are far from the end user, the long-distance transportation required relies on railway operation besides road transport by road to terminals in Finland. The paper discusses planning of terminal locations, space needs, biomass supply and handling at the terminals, and other aspects of the organisation of operations. In an example case, satellite terminal operations were planned for the Kontiomaki terminal, in Northern Finland. With an entire 24-wagon train, 400 GWh of energy biomass would be transported to the metropolitan area in Southern Finland annually. Heavy material-handling machines were used to keep the storage rotation high and material handling efficient. Raw wood and energy biomass should be used in the same terminal area, for the advantages of large material streams and integrated supply operations.