Summary

Loading and unloading of biomass does not present a complicate problem. Biomass is a plant matter, which is different in character and ways of handling. For handling biomass it is possible to use technologies typically used in forestry and agriculture. Loading, unloading and transport of biomass depend on the type of biomass. Row biomass (e.g. wood, brushwood, straw), requires different technologies compared to processed biomass (e.g. briquettes, pellets, straw bales). Loading and unloading of processed biomass is mainly made by a forklift, while for the manipulation and the transport of pellets pipelines and hoses are used. The manipulation of processed biomass is much easier than the loading and unloading of raw biomass, because processed biomass is processed to compact and homogeneous complexes.

The choice of loading and unloading technologies for the manipulation of raw biomass depends on the type of the biomass. For bulk materials such as logs different types of hydraulic loaders are used. As it is difficult to store in raw state and to transport away from the forest, the best way for handling biomass is to use a mobile chipper. Final chips are loaded on trailers, and are transported to storehouses or to the end user (depending on the technology used for the energetic utilization of biomass). In the case of agricultural residues the same equipment can be used.

For loading and unloading forest biomass different devices are used than in the case of the manipulation of agricultural biomass. For forest biomass loading the most frequently used machines are hydraulic loaders (hydraulic loading arms) or blade loaders. For loading and unloading agricultural biomass the most frequently used machines are self-loaders (for hay and straw bales) and self-pick-up vehicles (for hay or straw). In some cases we can still see the manual handling of forest and agricultural biomass.

In terms of costs, the investment costs of the equipment and manpower costs represent the highest part of the total cost of loading and unloading.

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