Tactical-operational optimization framework for forest biomass supply chains: multimodal transport and inventory planning in a Quebec case study

Integrating forest biomass into bioenergy systems poses logistical challenges due to seasonal variations in quality and the dispersed nature of supply. We develop a mixed-integer linear programming model that jointly optimizes procurement timing, multimodal transport (truck−rail−barge), chipping and drying locations, and inventory levels at supply nodes, terminals, and the biorefinery. The model embeds process-state transitions, seasonal moisture profiles, and infrastructure limits. In a large-scale Quebec case study (500 − 3000 dry metric tonne (DMT)/day), integrating rail reduces total system costs by 2.8 − 4.8% and yields mill-gate costs around CAD 119 − 121 per DMT. Terminals near the biorefinery decouple procurement from conversion and support buffer-based strategies through high-moisture periods. The optimization model is computationally tractable and provides a reusable template for planning forest biomass logistics that accounts for seasonal quality, preprocessing, and mode-choice interactions.