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Figure 2.14 and Table 2.14 describe the influence of annual tonnage per harvester (comparable to the
cane industry group size) and harvester pour rate upon cost per tonne for biomass delivered to the
field edge (that is, to the paddock landings).
Figure 2.14
Table 2.14
The effect of harvester pour rate and annual tonnage per harvester upon cost of
biomass harvested and delivered to field edge
Estimated costs of mallee harvesting, excluding profit and tax
Estimated cost per green tonne 1
Annual tonnage
per harvester
(green tonnes)
Pour rate
30 50 70
30,000 30 22 19
50,000 28 20 17
70,000 26 19 15
110,000 25 17 14
150,000 24 16 13
1 These estimates were based upon a total capex of $2.5 million for a harvester, two haulouts, and enough bins to handle the
daily biomass production. The resource density was low, assumed to be two row belts at 225 metre spacings. No shunt truck
costs have been included, and if logistics demand this additional transport step, another $3 (at >70,000 gt/y) to $4 (for low
annual tonnages) per green tonne would apply to these these costs. Road transport costs are in addition to these costs,
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