Wood pellets are a renewable fuel source that is made from compressed sawdust or wood chips. They can be used as biomass fuel to heat homes and businesses.
Residuals in the forest and low-quality logs which can be treated as waste can also be a source for wood pellets. The use of residuals and waste will reduce the pressure to cut down valuable timber for energy.
Process of Making Wood Pellets
Wood pellets are an environmentally friendly energy source that give off very little smoke when burned.
The process to make these begins by removing moisture and other particles from the wood material. The wood then goes through fine grinding and is turned into sawdust. Following this, the sawdust is heated and pressurized to form the pellets.
The pellets or cylinders are usually sized at 6 or 8 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length.
During the heating process, a natural polymer found in the wood called lignin is produced. This substance acts as the glue that holds the pellet together.
The result is a dense, smaller, more efficient version of wood that has a high energy value for a clean-burning, renewable energy source.
Wood Pellets as Energy Source
These pellets are considered by scientists and global environmental agencies as a biofuel that burns cleaner and emits less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognizes the significant greenhouse gas mitigation potential of biomass as long as they continue to be developed sustainably and used efficiently.
Wood pellets burn much like coal, but they release less ash and sulfur dioxide when burned. Many power plants use them for generating electricity while some homes and businesses use them as fuel for heating purposes.
Benefits of Using Wood Pellets
Renewable Energy Source
Wood pellets are an affordable, clean biofuel that emits lower levels of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources like these offer the most efficient way to replace power from fossil fuel sources.
Low-Cost Fuel
The cost of pellet stoves has dropped over the years due to more competitors in the market and increased production capacity for this kind of stove. Homeowners who choose a pellet stove will experience reduced heating costs because they do not need electricity.
This is more economical than using conventional fossil fuel sources that will only provide heat when there is a power supply.
Environmentally-Friendly
For an average household, burning these energy sources releases less indoor pollution compared to heating oil or natural gas. Wood pellet stoves burn clean and emit no smoke, ashes, sulfur dioxide, or particles into the air.
Carbon-Neutral
These pellets are carbon neutral because they use waste materials such as sawdust from trees and agricultural residues to produce energy while reducing greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
It is considered carbon-neutral because the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during combustion equals that absorbed by growing trees to produce the energy.
Drawbacks of Using Wood Pellets
Intermittent Energy Source
They are an efficient source of renewable energy but they are not considered a consistent energy source.
The fluctuation in weather results in fluctuations in pellet stove output, with reduced heating capacity, compared to natural gas or oil stoves during the winter months.
Sophisticated Production Process
These pellets are a relatively new form of energy production. There is still the need to develop the pellet processing system further to reduce costs and increase efficiency so that it can compete with other renewable sources.
The Bottom Line
Wood pellets are considered cleaner-burning renewable fuel. They emit fewer greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, and air pollutants compared to fossil fuels.
They come from a byproduct of the sawmill process so they have minimal impact on deforestation. The process only recycles wood waste products.
However, production is still relatively complex so it will take years before a substantial switchover to pellet heaters occurs.
FAQs
1. What is biomass?
Biomass is a renewable energy source that uses organic materials such as wood pellets, agricultural waste, and other natural resources to generate electricity.
2. What is carbon-neutral?
A carbon-neutral fuel means it does not contribute to global warming because the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during combustion equals that absorbed by growing trees.
3. Can biomass be used in power plants?
Yes, biomass can be converted into biofuel or turned into gas before being burned for generating electricity.
4. Aside from environmental benefits, what is the advantage of wood pellets over fossil fuels?
They cost less compared to other fossil fuels which makes them an affordable fuel source that homeowners can use for their heating requirements.
5. Are there economic risks involved with using wood pellets?
The cost of pellets has decreased over the years compared to when they were first introduced, but this fluctuates depending on market conditions. There are also risks in investing in equipment for pellet production since demand still remains uncertain. However, due to the rising prices of fossil fuels, the demand for pellet heaters is likely to increase.
