Wood Fuel
Welcome...
Wood fuels are carbon-neutral and offer a real opportunity for New Zealand to become greener and less dependent on fossil fuels. We grow trees as quickly as anywhere in the world but currently do not make full use of this valuable resource.
______________
Government Scenario shows that a 3-fold increase in the use of bioenergy is possible
| The Ministry of Economic Development has released its latest scenario of the New Zealand Energy Outlook. The New Zealand Energy Outlook presents long-term forecasts of energy supply, demand, prices and energy sector greenhouse gas emissions. The Changing Gear Scenario sets out a future energy scenario for New Zealand that looks at the implications of how New Zealand could reduce its reliance on imported oil - principally through increased uptake of bioenergy. The scenario builds on a Reference Scenario released in September last year that presented a "business-as-usual" case for energy in New Zealand. The Reference Scenario highlighted several challenges if New Zealand continues along its current path, including a continuing dependence on imported oil, the prospect of further electricity price rises, and increasing energy sector greenhouse gas emissions. Click here to download a copy of the article covering this new scenario and this information along with detailed data tables can be accessed free of charge on MED's web site at www.med.govt.nz/energyoutlook. The Changing Gear Scenario is very similar to the BANZ scenario on which the NZ Bioenergy Strategy has been based. Both sets of analysis show that New Zealand could have around 25% of its energy sourced from bioenergy by 2040. Export of wood fuel and biofuels would be additional to that. |
Wood Fuel News
The WFIG has released the following press statements:
26 February 2009: BANZ says NZ bioenergy opportunities offer long term benefits in creating jobs, lowering energy costs and directly benefiting local economies. Click here to download
Wood Fuel Events
Heating with Wood Chip
A showcase study tour of modern wood chip boiler installations that their supply chains, held Thursday 6th and Friday 7th May 2010 in Dunedin and Otago.
- "Event Programme" Click here to download
Click here to view presentations from the Heating with Wood Chip workshop
Wood Energy Summit 2009
The Wood Energy Summit 09 in Rotorua was a great success. This EECA organised event focused on how businesses can grow to make the most of the opportunities for wood energy.
A series of short presentations by leading international and local speakers was followed by a lively discussion from delegates with experience of preparing wood energy for sale as well as those using wood energy in their business. Everyone made a great contribution by giving valuable opinions and feedback. EECA would like to thank all the speakers and attendees.
Click here to find out more about the proceedings and presentations
Wood Energy Sector Profiles
EECA has engaged BANZ to develop a comprehensive Summary of the Wood Energy Sector in New Zealand. Sector participants fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Fuel Producer (hogger, wood processor)
- Fuel Wholesaler
- Fuel Retailer
- Wood Fuel consultant, researcher, training provider
- Wood Fuel equipment supplier (eg plant construction and design, burners, heaters, hoggers, fuel handling equipment)
Wood Energy Sector Participants
The following summary table provides some key details of the leading players in the Wood Energy Sector in New Zealand. For a one page profile on each company/organisation click on 'Company Profile'.
The following details are available for each of the key players listed:
- Company Name and Contact Details
- Core Skill(s)
- Location in the Supply Chain
- Core Product/Activity
- Key Project Activities
- Leading Edge
- Investment Base
- Employees
- Production Capacity
| ALLAN ESTCOURT Company Profile Contact: Allan Escourt Tel: 07 347 7261 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Engineering |
| Core skill: * Consultancy Services * Combustion Design * Fuel Handling and Drying Design * Burner, Boiler, Heater Design * Emission Control Design |
|
| Core product activity: * Sawdust fueled energy plants * Co-generation power systems |
|
| Leading edge: The professional staff at Allan Escourt Ltd are experienced as mechanical engineers in the chemical, control systems and structural fields. The mainstream of mechanical engineering activity is complimented and assisted by other engineering skills and disciplines as required. |
|
| CITY FIREWOOD Company Profile Contact: John Harris Tel: 03 359 9323 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Fuel retailer * Fuel wholesaler |
| Core skill: * Supplier of all wood fuels and firewood |
|
| Core product activity: * Wood fuel * Transport of wood fuel * Drying of wood fuel |
|
| Leading edge: City Firewood is focused on supplying all types and size of wood fuel and firewood to suit any type of boiler or fireplace. |
|
| ENERGY FOR INDUSTRY Company Profile Contact: David Reid Tel: 04 381 1336 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Wood Energy Consultant (Vertically integrated delivered energy supplier) |
| Core skill: Build, own and operate partnerships covering: * Delivered heat supply * Co-generation * Energy efficiency upgrades * Sustain-ability and environment all upgrades * Wood fuel supply * Packaged plant operating leases * Electricity Market Services |
|
| Core product activity: See our web site |
|
| Leading edge: Energy for Industry's partnership model is unique in New Zealand. We offer a total delivered energy solution. We pride ourselves on our innovative, environmentally best practice and customer focused solutions. Certified CEMARS TM being one of the first organisations to achieve the Landcare Research's accredited framework for companies to measure and manage their greenhouse emissions. |
|
| LIVING ENERGY Company Profile Contact: Rob Mallinson Tel: 09 377 9007 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Boiler and fuel supplier |
| Core skill: * Boiler and fuel supplier * Total turn-key project delivery * Consultancy and free advice re optimum project configurations, plant sizing and equipment layout * Ongoing supply of fuel, servicing and support |
|
| Core product activity: * Supply and turn-key installation of woodfired boilers from 50kW to 30,000 kW * Formulating cost-effective wood-energy solutions for commercial and industrial heat users. |
|
| Leading edge: With its portfolio of boilers, Living Energy can meet the heat requirements of any situation. The Binder system in particular can provide high pressure hot water or 10 bar steam using knarly, high moisture content and high ash fuels, proving long term cost-effective heat to users of process heat. |
|
| NZ WOOD FIBRE CO Company Profile Contact: Rens Bosman Tel: 09 292 7437 or 021 463 248 |
Location in the supply chain: * Sourcing of wood fibre |
| Core skill: * Sales and marketing services |
|
| Core product activity: * Sales and marketing * Wood chips, sawdust |
|
| Leading edge: We are a sales and marketing company with a unique understanding on the global wood fibre markets and offer suppliers of product and potential customers in-depth knowledge of wood fibre demand and supply and the ability to put together long term commercial supply arrangements. |
|
| POLYTECHNIK BIOMASS ENERGY Company profile Company brochure Contact: Christian Jirkowsky Tel: +64 (6) 877 4603 or 021 477 202 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Turnkey energy plants biomass boilers |
| Core skill: * Engineering and design * Biomass combustion technologies * Thermal energy plants * Energy and heat recovery technologies * Emission control systems * Fuel and ash handling systems |
|
| Core product activity: * Biomass fueled energy plants * Co-generation power systems - steam * ORC power plants * Emission control and heat recovery |
|
| Leading edge: Polytechnik distinguishes itself from other suppliers with high efficiency and availability, fuel flexibility, complete combustion and lowest emissions. With more than 40 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, installing and commissioning of about 2,500 biomass heat and power plants Polytechnik has become experts in generating energy from renewable biomass. |
|
| RCR ENERGY Company profile Contact: Philip Gedye Tel: +64 (6) 873 8838 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Wood fuel equipment supplier |
| Core skill: * Boiler and energy equipment supplier * Energy plant design, manufacture & service |
|
| Core product activity: There are three business divisions within RCR Energy * RCR Energy Systems * RCR Energy Service * RCR Energy Manufacturing |
|
| Leading edge: RCR Energy is a leader in the provision of industrial heat and power plants, specialising in the design, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of complete energy systems for any fuel or heat transfer media. |
|
| SPARK ENERGY Company profile Contact: Eduard Ebbinge Tel: +64 0800 246 674 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Wood boiler equipment supplier * Wood fuel supplier * Energy supply company |
| Core skill: * Supplier/Installer of modern Austrian biomass boilers for business * Supplier of wood fuels, wood heat or wood energy |
|
| Core product activity: * Specialist wood heating contractor * Energy supply company * Supplier of fuel-grade wood chips and wood pellets |
|
| Leading edge: * Ultra-efficiency biomass boilers handpicked for NZ conditions * Long-term fixed price patch wood fuel or heat supply contracts on offer * Strong after-sales support platform |
|
| WOOD ENERGY NEW ZEALAND (WENZ) Company profile Contact: Murray Cowan Tel: +64 0800 966 338 Web site |
Location in the supply chain: * Vertically integrated wood fuel supplier |
| Core skill: * Wood fuel supply and associated services |
|
| Core product activity: * See website |
|
| Leading edge: * Vertically integrated solutions * Secure access to raw wood streams * Multiple hubs for guaranteed supply * Owns core wood processing plant * Experienced and well resourced team * Fully backed by Energy for Industry |
|
Wood Fuels Trading Site
The new web site for buying and selling wood fuels online has been developed by BANZ, EECA and Scion. The site is located here on the Wood Energy Knowledge Centre.
Wood Fuel Suppliers?
There are a number of parties throughout NZ who are sourcing wood fuel from forest residues, wood processing residues, purpose grown biomass, and from municipal wood waste. The directory below allows you to search for suppliers in different regions, or by the type of wood fuel supplied.
If you are a supplier of wood fuel and would like to be listed then contact BANZ.
What is Wood Fuel?
Wood fuel is any source of woody biomass. Up until recently it was often considered as waste or may be referred to as forest residues or wood processing residues. Today it is recognised that it can be a valuable source of energy and reference to it as waste in particular under values the materials available. Recognising that wood fuel is to be treated on the same basis as coal or gas will reinforce that it is a valuable commodity (which we often waste).
BANZ Technical Guides
BANZ has a number of Technical Guidance documents - those of relevance to wood fuel are as follows:
- Technical Guide 01 - Wood Fuel Classification Guidelines
- Technical Guide 04 - Tender Guidelines for Wood Energy Plant
Note, for additional Technical Guidance Documents specific to Wood Pellets see here
Technical Guide 01 - Wood Fuel Classification Guidelines
The sale and purchase of wood fuels has highlighted the need for the seller and the purchaser of wood fuel to be confident with respect to the description and quality of the wood fuel sought or supplied. These guidelines for classification of wood fuel have been prepared to provide a common methodology for classifying, specifying and declaring the quality and properties of the traded wood fuel in New Zealand.
The additional benefits of the classification of wood fuel include:
- increase in use of wood energy
- improving consumer confidence in wood fuel
- educate and provide confidence to Regional Councils in wood fuels
- provide fuel quality assurance to heat plant manufacturers and wood fuel users
- promote wood energy as a sustainable energy source
- ensure environmental damage through inappropriate use is controlled.
The Classification Guidelines have been produced as a voluntary industry standard and have been prepared to meet specific New Zealand requirements. The parameters set out are based on formal international standards but have been simplified so as to meet New Zealand needs.
The Guidelines have been prepared on the basis of having a working document that the wood energy industry can use to develop a trade in wood fuel. The Guidelines are intended to be flexible and allow a framework for defining the different kinds of wood fuels. As experience with the Guidelines is obtained they will be adjusted from time to time to best meet market needs. Once established, it is anticipated that the Classification Guidelines will be used as a base for adoption as a formal Technical Standard.
See also Summary of Wood Fuel Standards - An EU/UK Guide explaining the merits of standards for wood fuel.
Version 5 of the Classification Guidelines is available here. If you are interested in this project contact the BANZ Executive Officer.
The Guidelines currently refer to Testing Standards. It is important that wood fuel users are able to access facilities or laboratories that have been approved to undertake an agreed and standard set of tests to ensure quality. This study reviews existing wood fuel testing standards and makes recommendations as to which testing standards should be adopted within the wood fuel industry to support the Wood Fuel Classifications Guidelines.
The Review of Testing Standards Report can be downloaded here.
Technical Guide 04 - Tender Guidelines for Wood Energy Plant
This Technical Guide has been developed by the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ) for those seeking to upgrade an existing coal fired boiler or install a new wood fueled boiler and who have limited experience in such works. It presents guidelines for the specification, supply and installation of wood energy plant and specifically targets organisations going out to tender for the supply and installation of appropriate equipment. .
The use of the guidelines should not substitute for the engagement of professional engineering advice.
The Guidelines set out the key elements that must be taken into account prior to the specification, selection and installation of a new wood fuel boiler and associated site works. They have been written such that both engineers likely to tender for wood fuel boiler installations or conversions, and those likely to be seeking such services (as non-experts), for example, school staff or school/hospital boards, can understand what is required. I.e., a concerted effort has been made to ensure that this Guide is accessible to both the client and the service provider.
Types of Wood Fuel
The different types of wood fuel include:
- Pellets
- Forest residue chip
- Process residue chip
- Process residue shavings and sawdust
- Demolition chip
- MDF dust brickettes
- Domestic firewood
- Purpose grown biomass
New Zealand Forestry Production, Trade Data and Information
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) produces data on Forestry Production and Trade in New Zealand. The data can be assessed here.
A variety of forestry and wood focused publications are available on the MAF site here.
Wood Energy Projects
The EECA Wood Energy Knowledge Centre is a very useful source of information on the use of
woody biomass with tools, case studies and guidelines available on-line.
EECA works with individual businesses to help them better manage their energy use and become more productive and competitive.
Sustainability Victoria's key role is to implement Victorian government policy. They work with business, the community, individuals and the government to achieve meaningful outcomes in greenhouse gas abatement, energy efficiency, renewable energy and the smarter use of resources.
While all Australian States have Departments which provide assistance and guidance to reduce energy consumption and the Federal Government also provides lots of information, the ResourceSmart web site from Sustainability Victoria has some very good resources for businesses.
Useful Resources
Articles
coming soon.....
Presentations
Click on the links below to view and download
"Energy Fuels from Waste Wood" (May 2009), Ron Burghard, Ortana Scientific Inc.
Wood Fuels Interest Group
The The Wood Fuel Interest Group lists New Zealand’s leading providers of wood fuel and suppliers of heat plant technologies of all scales and sizes. Together this group works to promote the use of woody biomass (that would otherwise be disposed of as waste) in modern, clean burning and efficient boilers for heat or co generation applications. A number of small, medium and large scale heat users are appreciating the merits and convenience of wood fuel as they look to a cleaner more sustainable fuel for heat provision. Applications are typically in the commercial / industrial sector. The group also focuses on the development of sector resources and materials promoting quality wood fuel standards.
- Click on the following link to view Group Convener details.
If you are a member then use your password to access the member's only area.
Wood Fuels Interest Group Meeting Dates 2012
(Note -all Board and IG meetings are by GoToMeeting unless otherwise advised)
David McGregor (Convener)
3.30pm - Thursday, 15th February
3.30pm - Thursday, 19th April
3.30pm - Thursday, 19th July
3.30pm - Thursday, 20th September
3.30pm - Thursday, 6th December
Each Interest Group will have at least one Face to Face meeting annually. Ideally the meeting will coincide with an event.
BANZ activities are organised around its Interest Groups. Please contact us if you wish to join any of these groups.