[Digestion] Woody Biomass digestion via compost

[Wake Robin Design WRD]

Greetings,
  I was wondering if any readers have come across the work of Jean Pain.  The man who converted overgrown hardwood forests in southern france into healthy woodlands while simultaneously producing methane, methanol, hot water, and compost from the digestion process?  I am trying to track down his book or a book on the subject which illuminates the specifics of this method.
   
  What I understand is that instead of creating a slurry, he built piles of wood shavings saturated by water.  I am guessing that by composting the debris he was able to heat the inside of the pile enough to produce methane.  It seems like a simpler approach than heating a tank filled with a slurry.  Does this seem possible?
   
  I want to eventually apply this method in the Pacific Northwest region of the USA.  What is the feasability of using wood shavings from northwest connifers like douglas fir and western red cedar?  Does anyone have any specifics on the amount of energy produced per ton using this particular material?  How hot do you need to keep it?  Does the collection energy justify the energy retrieved by digestion?
   
  I am also interested in learning more about the way gas is collected from a compost pile.  This particular bit of information has not been revealed by any articles on Pain
   
  Finally, any ideas on some good chipper shredders in the PNW?
   
  If anyone has any thoughts on any of these questions I would be grateful,
   
  Abel Kloster
   

 
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