Dry sawdust pressed under high pressure – this is the shortest way to describe this increasingly popular biofuel. It usually takes the form of granules, packed in handy 15 and 20 kg bags. The comfort of storage, high efficiency and the ecological aspect of pellets were appreciated first in the Scandinavian countries, as well as in the USA, Canada and Poland. Its history there dates back almost three decades.
For several years, pellets have also been widely available in Poland. It is used, among others, in the baking industry, for heating large-area buildings and in single-family houses. The environmentally friendly fuel material does not emit any toxic substances, and the ash generated in the combustion process can be used as a natural fertilizer. Pellet moisture is around 10%. The highest energy efficiency can be achieved by using it in burners with a moving grate.
Advantages of pellets
Wood granulate gives high savings in heating costs, reaching up to 60% compared to, for example, heating oil. Pellets used in burners with a moving grate provide an efficiency of 99%, and the ash created in this way is used as a high-quality, natural fertilizer. Pellet heating eliminates the emission of any toxic substances (it is devoid of artificial binder and other harmful elements). It also facilitates storage and transport. The fuel tank is refilled once every few days and eliminates troublesome dirt.
The network of pellet distributors is systematically expanded. Currently, this material is widely available even in small towns. The moisture content of the biofuel is around 10%. It does not require any special storage conditions. Pellet is an ecological product, made exclusively from natural ingredients. This ensures compliance with current and future environmental standards. Switching to pellets does not require modernization or purchase of the entire heating system – it is enough to replace the burner.
The main advantages of pellets:
- high savings in heating costs
- fully ecological character
- clean, tidy work in the boiler room
- convenience of storage and transport
- refilling the tank every few hours
- minimum amount of ash (about 1%)
- a dense network of distributors, wholesalers and retail warehouses
- can be used in the currently used boiler.
Pellets in the world
The history of this fuel dates back 30 years, and it began in countries that are famous for their innovative solutions, not only in the heating industry. Namely, the Scandinavian countries and North America. The great advantage of pellets turned out to be universal application – the possibility of using previously used boilers. Savings resulting from the high efficiency of dry sawdust and their ecological character completed the success.
Over time, pellets began to displace traditional fuels, primarily in places where the climate does not spoil and the heating season lasts for several months a year. The ease of its storage and transport as well as the lack of pollution in boiler rooms were appreciated. In the countryside, it is also used as an environmentally friendly livestock bedding. It is used to heat entire housing estates, hotels, warehouses, schools, offices and even cities. The biofuel meets all EU standards for environmental protection. The Danish government even recognized them as an important element of the state energy plan for the next 40 years.
Countries where pellets have gained the greatest recognition and have been widely used for many years to heat warehouses, single-family houses and other facilities:
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Poland
- United States
- Canada
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Austria
- France
Pellets entered the domestic market several years ago. In the first stage of popularization of ecological fuel, it gained the greatest recognition among bakery owners. Over the course of several years, savings in their case reach even several hundred thousand zlotys. And this is due to the extraordinary efficiency of this biofuel, which is ensured primarily by the use of a movable grate in the burners.
Wood pellets are also more and more often used in home fireplaces. It can heat entire properties, while providing an intimate atmosphere in the living room. This is not the end of the list of devices using pellets. The main ones include burners and pallet boilers. Pellet stoves and even a pellet grill will also be available for sale.
The Polish biofuels market is gaining momentum. Development in this sector is accelerated by environmental protection standards, the convenience of using innovative technologies and, above all, measurable savings. Although the Polish economy is based on conventional energy sources, EU decision-makers are pushing harder and harder. It is impossible to suddenly introduce extremely restrictive regulations and drastically reduce them within a few years