Biomass Pellets

Biomass pellets refers to a collection of different pellets produced from a selection of different biomass raw materials. As the need to replace existing fossil fuel energy sources increases. There will be a greater range of biomass pellets used to produce energy.

Biomass

Biomass simply refers to any organic material which can be used to generate energy. In terms of climate change and global warming, the significant fact about biomass is that it is carbon neutral. What this means is that biomass combustion does not place any additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as new biomass growth absorbs the carbon released.

Wood Pellets

Wood pellets are currently the most common and most widespread form of biomass pellets. Wood pellets are currently produced predominately from timber processing residues. These residues are used to produce premium grade wood pellets. Premium grade wood pellets produce the least ash of all biomass pellets. Premium grade pellets due to their high heat value and low maintenance are the most expensive type of biomass pellets.

Other wood residues can also be processed into wood pellets. However bark for instance will increase the ash content, so the pellets may not be suitable for some pellet burners. Also there is only a limited supply of wood resources to produce biomass pellets. This is where other biomass resources must be considered for fuel pellets.

Grass Pellets

Grass pellets are still a very new area of biomass pellet production. Using grass as a fuel source has many advantages. Grass produces much higher yields than woody biomass, and can be grown in more locations, and from season to season. Also during pellet production less energy is required to form grass into a pellet, also with higher productivities. There are however issues and challenges in burning grass pellets as there are with straw pellets.

Straw Pellets

Straw pellets can be produced from waste agricultural residues. This includes for example wheat and barley straw, and even other wastes such as corn cobs. Burning straw and grass pellets does create challenges in terms of a higher ash content, and possible clinker and slag formations. Straw pellets are currently most commonly used to generate electricity in coal fired power stations, wood pellets are also used in some cases. Straw pellets can be produced locally in most agricultural locations, where wood pellet production may not be possible at all.