Groupe Savoie Biomass Recovery Challenge
The Groupe Savoie Biomass Recovery Challenge sought innovative solutions to optimize biomass utilization, improve resource efficiency, and reduce forestry waste.
Optimizing Biomass Utilization for Waste Reduction & Efficiency
Groupe Savoie, a leader in sustainable hardwood products, sought solutions to optimize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hardwood biomass extraction and transportation from cut sites.
Learn About The Challenge WinnerInnovative technologies are needed to improve hardwood biomass recovery by reducing waste, optimizing resource use, and supporting sustainable forestry practices.
Challenge Statement
Groupe Savoie sought solutions to enhance the efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall sustainability associated with hardwood biomass extraction and transportation from cut sites.
Achieving greater efficiency of harvesting this forest biomass will enable this material to be used as a biofuel. Viable solutions could include innovation and modification of forestry harvesting equipment and methods, or the development of logistical and data tools to optimize the deployment of harvesting equipment and personnel.
Challenge Opportunity
This Challenge offered a unique opportunity for the Challenge winner to collaborate directly with Groupe Savoie on a 12-month pilot, showcasing their solution in a real-world environment.
The winner will gain industry recognition and the chance to make a significant impact on sustainable forestry practices.
Background
Current methods of harvesting and extracting lower-value hardwood (smaller limbs unsuitable as roundwood products) are inefficient and costly due to the logistical challenges of deploying equipment and the transport of material. It is estimated that up to 40% of usable hardwood biomass is left behind from a harvested site.
Groupe Savoie was looking for solutions that minimize the impact of shortwood harvesting operations to below 10%. To increase forwarder production by 25-30% and reduce equipment fuel use per ton by the same amount.
A successful solution will:
- Recover an additional 15,000 tons of biomass for the same volume of roundwood harvested
- Ensure consistent supply to pellet mill and create opportunities to sell volume for green energy projects
- Reduce extraction costs by $4/ton over 35,000 tons, saving $140,000 annually.
Considerations & Barriers to Adoption
Groupe Savoie efficiently prepares biomass on site using feller-bunchers without reducing process productivity. However, the forwarders are currently limited to handling 5.75 tonnes per trip, as they are not adapted to handle larger volumes. Enhancing the basket and grapple capabilities of forwarders could significantly increase productivity and lower extraction costs.
Preparing more biomass from shortwood operations without a feller-buncher will result in additional costs at the harvesting stage. Solutions must focus on minimizing these added expenses.
There are prototype forwarders adapted for biomass, but nothing yet standard or commercial. Some adaptations work well, others less so. Customized forwarders will need to be developed by leveraging existing prototypes and adaptations.
Evaluation & Eligibility
Optimizing biomass recovery requires solutions that not only improve extraction efficiency but also reduce costs significantly. Successful innovations will integrate seamlessly with current forestry practices and demonstrate clear economic and operational benefits.
Key eligibility criteria include:
- Improves efficiency in hardwood cut plots
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL 6-8)
- Applicants anywhere in the world can apply
- Willingness to pilot with Groupe Savoie
Key evaluation criteria include:
- GHG emissions reduction
- Cost-effective
- Scalable
- Reduces operational costs
- Operational Compatibility: Solutions must be compatible with existing equipment and/or processes and require minimal training and workforce to implement
The Partners
Founded in 1978, Groupe Savoie has built a strong reputation as a leading producer of a wide range of top-quality hardwood products, including pallets and pallet components, cabinet and furniture components, hardwood lumber, tone wood components, ecological fuels, wood chips, and more. Their vertically integrated business model ensures optimal processing and transformation of forest resources into premium hardwood products.
Groupe Savoie’s vision is to be a company recognized for adding the maximum value to available forest resources. Their mission has always been to manufacture products of exceptional quality—all while ensuring sustainable forest practices and contributing to the development and quality of life of our employees and communities.
The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) helps people propel their innovative ideas onto the global stage. Since 2003, NBIF has invested more than $175 million into startup businesses and applied research in New Brunswick. These foundational investments have attracted an $825 million of additional investment, giving New Brunswick innovators $1 billion to take their ideas further.
Challenge Winner
Foresight Canada and Groupe Savoie announced the Northern Hardwoods Research Institute (NHRI) as the winner of the Biomass Recovery Challenge. The NHRI unites the forest sector, governments, and academia, to drive the development of effective solutions for improved resource growth, increased harvest volumes, and long-term sustainability.
As the Challenge winners, the NHRI will collaborate with Groupe Savoie on a 12-month pilot to develop technology solutions that optimize hardwood biomass recovery. The pilot will target improvements in harvest productivity, forwarder payloads, and operational cost reductions, alongside the development of customized remote sensing and geomatics tools for smarter forest management. Leveraging their deep expertise in hardwood and mechanized operations, the NHRI will help Groupe Savoie identify high-impact optimization opportunities—reducing fossil fuel use, increasing renewable energy output, and promoting sustainable forestry practices.
The Northern Hardwoods Research Institute is privileged to have been awarded this opportunity by Foresight Canada and NBIF to collaborate with Groupe Savoie on developing feasible and sustainable solutions for utilizing residual forest biomass in their harvesting operations.
This initiative is critical to increasing production volumes that will contribute to greener energy solutions and reduce GHG emissions both locally and globally. Without this funding initiative, this important project would not have been possible.
Challenge Updates
January 13, 2025: Applications open
February 4, 2025: Informational webinar
February 21, 2025: Applications close
April 10, 2025: Winner announced
Our Partners
The Biomass Recovery Challenge is run with support from our bioNEXT program, Groupe Savoie, and NBIF.
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