Wood Fuel

 

Welcome to the BANZ Wood Fuel web site link page.

This page provides brief information on what's happening in the wood fuel sector in New Zealand. More extensive information is available on the BANZ UseWoodFuel NZ web site and also to BANZ members including the Wood Fuel Interest Group and discussion forum.


For more detailed information on wood fuels, please visit the BANZ UseWoodFuel NZ web site here

 

 

What are Wood Fuels?

Wood fuels are a sustainable, carbon-neutral fuel 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 value resource.

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).

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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

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Publications and Articles on Wood Fuels

The dedicated BANZ UseWoodFuel NZ web-site offers information on wood fuel from both national and international articles. Go to the UseWoodFuel NZ web site for more details.

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Wood Energy Sector Profiles - Suppliers of Fuel and Equipment

BANZ Wood Energy Sector Profiles showcase participants that 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)

A summary table providing some key details of the leading players in the Wood Energy Sector in New Zealand is available on the UseWoodFuel NZ web site.

One page profiles on each company/organisation are also available. If you are looking for a supplier of fuel or equipment go to the UseWoodFuel NZ web site. Details of open-days, workshops and events are also available.

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BANZ Technical Guides

The sale, purchase and use 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. Further, the user needs to have confidence in not only the fuel but the technology on offer, its functionality, its safety and issues such as maintenance.

BANZ has developed the following Technical Guides to ensure users of wood fuel can secure top quality fuel, equipment and advice.

  • Technical Guide 01 - Wood Fuel Classification Guidelines
  • BANZ Technical Guide 02 - Guidelines for the Conversion of Solid Fuel Boilers from Coal to Wood Pellet Firing
  • BANZ Technical Guide 03 - Guidance document for Wood Pellet Boiler Operators
  • Technical Guide 04 - Tender Guidelines for Wood Energy Plant

Access sample copies of these guides on the BANZ UseWoodFuel NZ web site here.

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Case Studies

Recently uploaded:

Wood a winner for heating Dunedin

Dunedin is leading the way in demonstrating how key players in a region can work together to make wood a viable source of energy for heating facilities ranging from schools and hostels to factories and commercial buildings.
There are currently three wood fuel suppliers in the city and nine (and counting) commercial or industrial wood energy users. Together, they form the Dunedin Wood Energy Cluster.
Read more here...>

Find out what others are doing in the wood fuel industry:

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Other Useful Sources of Wood Fuel Information

UseWoodFuel NZ

UseWoodFuel NZ is a dedicated BANZ campaign to increase the uptake and availability of quality wood fuel in New Zealand.  Its modeled on a similar approach spearheaded in Scotland in the UK. The campaign is supported by a web site (www.usewoodfuelnz.org.nz) and a programme of events, information sessions and open days around the country to promote understanding of wood fuel.

The aim of the initiative is to promote the benefits of wood as a clean sustainable heating solution, to provide information on the availability of wood fuel and wood focused technologies in New Zealand. The campaign will enable interested parties to see and hear first-hand how wood fuel is produced, how it gets to the point of sale and how its used in a variety of residential, small scale commercial and industrial situations.  Details of what types of fuel is available in New Zealand is available on the campaign web site as are details of the latest technologies in use in New Zealand are available on the site.

The UseWoodFuel web-site is being developed as a central information source from which all interested parties will be able to find what they need on wood fuel, its use and production in New Zealand.

Bioenergy Projects Directory

The BANZ Bioenergy Project Database is a comprehensive database of all bioenergy projects in New Zealand. Use this Directory to find out who is using bioenergy where and how. Details of Users and technology / consultancy providers are available alongside details of fuel and equipment providers.

EECA Wood Energy Knowledge Centre - 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.

Forest Energy Portal

The "Forest Energy Portal" is a networking and knowledge platform for researchers, companies and all other interested stakeholders in the field of Forest Biomass for Energy.

The Portal is developed and maintained by COST Action FP0902 "Development and harmonisation of new operation research and forest assessment procedures for sustainable forest biomass supply", IEA Bioenergy Task Force 43 and the "Metsäenergia" project. However, the Portal is meant to serve the research community at large and other stakeholders in the field.
Read more here...>

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) - New Zealand Forestry Production, Trade Data and Information

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) produces data open 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.

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Wood Fuel Events

Details on all wood focused events are available on the main BANZ web page.

Special events such as open-days and tours are also details on the UseWoodFuel NZ web site.

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Wood Fuels Interest Group

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 amore 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.

BANZ Wood Fuel Resources and sector information are presented through the UseWoodFuel NZ web site, part of the BANZ UseWoodFuel NZ campaign. The campaign aims to increase the uptake and availability of quality wood fuel in New Zealand. It is modeled on a similar approach spearheaded in Scotland in the UK. In addition to the web site the campaign is supported by a programme of events, information sessions and open days around the country to promote understanding of wood fuel.

 

WFIG Meeting Timetable for 2013

(Convener to be advised)

WFIG Committee Members (link coming soon)

 

3.30 pm - Thursday, 7 March

3.30 pm - Tuesday, 23 April

3.30 pm - Wednesday, 12 June

3.30 pm - Monday, 12 August

3.30 pm - Friday, 18 October

3.30 pm - Monday, 2 December

 

  • Download the full list of meeting dates here

 

Each Interest Group will have at least one Face to Face meeting annually.  Ideally the meeting will coincide with an event.

NOTE

  • All Board and IG meetings are by GoToMeeting unless otherwise advised)
  • From time to time meeting dates may have to change. The BANZ team will notify members of any changes as soon as possible.

BANZ activities are organised around its Interest Groups. Please contact us if you wish to join any of these groups.

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