The Swedish SME SalixEnergi Europa AB has developed a prototype for a harvesting machine for plantations of fast-growing trees, so-called short rotation plantations (SRPs). This harvesting machine is based on a new harvesting technology that enables an efficient post-treatment of the biomass and thus increases the energy efficiency of SRPs by up to 30 %. It is harvesting so-called billets, pieces of the stem still containing the rod with combustion properties comparable to traditional woodchips. However, several technological developments are necessary, the market potential has to be confirmed and a commercialisation concept has to be developed to obtain a marketable machine. A feasibility study was conducted to assess the technological and economic feasibility of the harvesting machine and an initial business plan was developed as a basis for its commercialisation. The following works were conducted and their results are presented:
- Calculation of the market potential: A sufficient sales potential is the main requirement for a newly developed product. On the SRP sector the sales potential mainly depends on the SRP area and on the specific advantages of competing products:
- Estimation of SRP area: There are no official statistics about the area of SRPs in Europe. All information was obtained from estimations, calculations, databases, surveys and personal communications. Altogether an SRP area of 85,000 hectares was estimated for Europe, providing a sufficient market potential for SRP harvesting machines.
- Competing products: A variety of competing products exists and is available on the European market. Relevant features such as the productivity, the price, etc. were compared.
- Identification of technological improvement potentials: The existing billet harvester is just a first prototype which has improvement potentials, e.g. the adaptation to different environmental conditions. A list of necessary and useful potential improvements was compiled.
- Assessment of feasibility of technological developments: An initial assessment of the technological feasibility of the improvement potentials including the development of first ideas for their implementation.
- Development of a commercialisation concept: Basics for a successful commercialisation of the harvesting machine were assessed. This mainly comprised the planning of the production facilities, transportation and service structures and distribution partners.
- Various small tasks: Investigation of legal framework, internal cost and staff calculations, IPR management, risk assessment, etc.
