Remaining true to the Rayonier mission of value creation in ways that are responsible and efficient, we utilize biomass as a source of renewable energy at all of our mills. These practices make Rayonier very energy efficient and it's one of the many ways we are constantly improving operations in order to generate value for our shareholders.
Installed in 2007, the biofuels boiler at our Fernandina Mill produces enough steam and electricity to offset the equivalent of more than 400,000 automobile miles in fossil fuel energy every day. The mill now produces approximately 90 percent of the energy required to run the facility, reducing our fuel consumption by 200,000 bbls/year.
We are now building a new turbine generator at the Fernandina Mill that is expected to be operational in June of 2012. This turbine generator, with an average capacity of 21 MW, will replace one of the two existing turbine generators. When the turbine generator is complete, the facility will produce all of the electricity needed for its operations onsite – and have surplus capacity to sell.
In Jesup, our mill is especially energy efficient in its use of alternative fuel sources. The steam energy used in this facility is generated from lignin as well as bark and fuel chips. This biomass-generated steam provides 88 percent of the electricity required to operate the mill, creating additional value through energy savings.
Our three Georgia sawmill operations utilize renewable energy as well. In Baxley, two boilers are fueled by sawdust and shavings generated during our sawing and lumber planning processes. Our Swainsboro facility has two gassifiers that burn the green sawdust from our processes. Our Eatonton sawmill also uses bark and green sawdust to fuel its boiler for power.
Biomass from our forestry harvesting operations can also be converted to pellets, ethanol or used in co-generation facilities and then can be used to power homes, offices and even vehicles. Renewable resources make up about two percent of the energy consumption in the U.S. As individuals and organizations look for ways to shift their energy sources to more renewable alternatives, we anticipate an increase in the demand for wood products like ours over the next several years.
What is renewable forest biomass energy?
Renewable forest biomass energy is using material from the forest, including limbs, branches, bark, underbrush, smaller and inferior trees, and wood wastes from manufacturing to produce energy. It is the original renewable energy, and is presently the largest source of renewable electricity in the U.S., exceeding wind, solar, and geothermal combined.