Wood Pellets
Welcome...
Welcome to the BANZ Wood Pellets Interest Group webpage. This page provides information on what's happening in the wood pellet sector in New Zealand. More extensive information is available to BANZ members including discussion forums.
For more detailed information on Wood Pellets, please visit the BANZ Wood Pellets Interest Group website here |
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What Are Wood Pellets?
Wood pellets are a densified wood fuel typically made of shavings and/or sawdust. If the sawdust or shavings are wet they will have to go through a drying process to achieve a final moisture content of 10% after processing. The sawdust or shavings are processed through an extruder to develop a uniform 1 cm long pellet with diameter of 6 mm. The pellets are bagged for residential use or trucked bulk for larger scale consumers.
The wood pellet market in New Zealand is still new but has been taken up by many consumers. The manufacturing capacity is above 100,000 tonnes per year on 4 wood pellet plants, increasing in March 2010 with the opening of the Natures Flame plant in Taupo. The present consumption of pellets is significantly lower – about 20,000 tonnes in 2006. The wood pellets are predominantly used for residential heating, although there are an increasing number of institutions on wood pellets (mostly conversions from coal). Other commercial scale users include prisons, hospitals, swimming pools, rest homes, etc.
Wood pellets are seen as the principal means for institutions and the residential and commercial sectors to use biomass for heat. They are offered as a standardised, easily handled fuel through supply chains. The alternative of utilising hog fuel or chip directly by these users is not expected, mainly due to the inconvenience of these systems compared to wood pellets.
Publications and Articles on Wood Pellets
Information on wood pellets is available from the following sources:
"New Zealand Wood Pellets - making the most of National and International Opportunities", BANZ report, 28 July 2010.
This report is only available on the Members Only section of this website here.
"Rotorua Wood Pellet air emission study" Anna Jonsson and Per Nielsen. click here to download
Bioenergy Knowledge Centre. Click here to go to website
"New Zealand Wood Pellets Market" workshop held in Rotorua, November 2006. Click here to download presentations
"Fuel Pellets in New Zealand" workshop held in Rotorua, November 2002. Click here to download presentations.
BANZ Technical Guide 02 - Guidelines for the Conversion of Solid Fuel Boilers from Coal to Wood Pellet Firing
The following Guide has been developed to provide guidance on the conversion of existing coal fired boilers to wood pellet operation. As with all BANZ Technical Guides, this document is issued as a ‘version'. As new information comes to light and BANZ received comments from experts, where appropriate, a new version is issued. If you have any comments on the current version, please contact Connie Crookshanks
With every conversion, it's essential that what is learnt from early conversions is passed on to those undertaking later conversions. Of paramount importance in any conversion is the need, not simply to maintain the safety and integrity of the boiler and its control systems but to improve the level of safety to the level of “Best Practice”. The second mater of importance is that the boiler's combustion efficiency after conversion should be at least as good as before, and for preference better.
Although (mostly) written around sectional boilers with underfeed stokers this Guide can, with care, be used as the basis of conversion for most boiler and stoker types. The essential operational and safety issues are similar. Likewise, although this Guide has been formulated on the basis of experience with wood pellet firing, with care, it can be used in conjunction with firing wood chip.
Guidelines for the Conversion of Solid Fuel Boilers from Coal to Wood Pellet Firing, May 2010
Conversion of Coal Boilers to run on Wood Pellets
The number of boilers now running on wood pellets in New Zealand (in particular in schools) continues to rise, as do the number of different parties offering installation and conversion services. There are a number of obvious advantages to using pellets, the most obvious of which is that they are a relatively clean burning and sustainable fuel. Compared to coal, added advantages include ease of use, cleaning and maintenance.
Cost and current condition will always be a factor in anyone's choice of fuel and boiler technology. Many schools for example have funded replacement of their existing boilers and shifted from coal to pellets in the process. Others have been able to convert existing boilers from coal to run on pellets.
Current Conversions and Replacement biomass Boilers in New Zealand Schools
Training
For more details on the following training courses:
- Wood Pellet Boiler Operator Training Course and Certification
- Wood Pellet Heater Installer Course
Go to the BANZ Wood Pellets website here
Wood Pellets Information, heater and boiler suppliers and sources of pellet fuel
The most upto date information on wood pellets, heater and boiler suppliers and pellets suppliers is on the website. Click here to access Wood Pellets website.
Wood Pellets Interest Group
The Bioenergy Association has established a Wood Pellets Interest Group for discussion and shared activities. Membership of the Interest Group is by way of membership of BANZ. If you are a member then use your password to access the member's only area to participate in this group.
Interest Group Committee Meeting Dates
WPIG Meeting Timetable for 2010
(Provisional)
Brian Cox (Temporary Convener)
3.30pm - Monday, 18th January - (brief meeting to discuss workshop)
7.30pm - Wednesday, 17th February (cancelled)
3.30pm - Tuesday, 30th March
3.30pm - Tuesday, 1st June
3.30pm - Monday, 2nd August
3.30pm - Wednesday, 6th October
3.30pm - Monday 6th December
(NOTE - Unless otherwise advised all Board and IG meetings are by teleconference)