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Abstract: This paper provides a literature review of articles on the primary forest fuel supply chain which have been published in English speaking peer-reviewed journals from 1989 to 2011. The focus is on the key issues of the transportation of primary forest fuel to heat and/or power plants: (i) transportation modes, (ii) terminal types, and (iii) forest fuel supply chain management, and provides basics on the logistically relevant characteristics of wood as feedstock such as on various feedstock assortments. The analysed supply chains include the transshipment, storage, handling (e.g. chipping) and transportation of primary forest fuel from the place of harvest to energy conversion plant. Due to spatial distribution, low mass density, low energy density and low bulk density, the transportation of primary forest fuel is crucial for economic efficiency as well as for reduced CO2 emissions. As a consequence of forests accessibility, road transportation (after hauling the biomass to the forest road) is the first step of the modern primary forest fuel supply chain. For longer transportation distances, rail or waterway is preferred because of lower transportation costs per volume transported and lower CO2 emissions. We highlight that some experience exists in multimodal transport, including truck, train or ship. Intermodal transport, however, has not been studied in the past and, therefore, an outlook for the research requirements is made here. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bioenergy production involves a series of interrelated activities associated with feedstock production and feedstock-to-energy conversion. Thus, decisions on bioenergy production and deployment should be based on the simultaneous consideration of the entire supply chain. Based on cost minimization of both feedstock production and energy conversion, we develop a generic framework for determining the optimal bioenergy conversion plant size, the corresponding feedstock supply radius, and bioenergy production costs. The theoretical framework elucidates the relationships among activities along the bioenergy supply chain, suggesting strategies for enhancing the cost competitiveness of bioenergy. Such relationships as well as applications of our theoretical model are further illustrated using cases of producing electricity and cellulosic ethanol from biomass. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]