Analysis of the global production location dynamics in the industrial wood pellet market: an MCDA approach

Smith, Tiziana; Junginger, Martin

doi:10.1002/bbb.292

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The wood pellet industry, being an established modern bioenergy industry, represents an ideal avenue for integrating torrefaction. The demand for low-carbon fuels, especially wood pellets in Europe and other regions, and concurrent advancements in the wood pellet industry have created a global biomass energy industry, with the United States now the world’s largest exporter of wood pellets. − White pellets are typically produced by pelletizing pulpwood-quality wood chips and sawmill residues. − Pelletization improves flow and handling characteristics, reduces shipping costs, and renders the effective processing and storage of biomass . Wood pellets with premium quality (<0.5% ash content) are used for residential and district heating applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Torrefaction in the Wood Pellet Industry: A Critical Review

Kumar

Koukoulas²,

Mani

et al. 2016

Energy Fuels

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As an established bioenergy industry, the global wood pellet sector is ideally positioned to adopt biomass torrefaction technologies. In this review, potential benefits and challenges of integrating torrefaction within the pellet industry are reviewed and the required technological interventions to enable this integration are analyzed. It is apparent that integration would accelerate the commercialization of biomass torrefaction and benefit the wood pellet industry, torrefaction developers, as well as coal-based utilities. Torrefied pellets are expected to have distinct applications in power generation and help coal-based utilities to reduce their emission levels and comply with increasingly stringent regulations. Co-firing coal with black pellets requires little-to-no retrofit of the existing power plant and, therefore, can offer a low-cost solution. Two potential pathways, in either an upstream or downstream configuration, for retrofitting torrefaction within a white pellet facility are assessed. A successful upstream integration can potentially produce highly dense and durable torrefied pellets. However, the current limitations with this approach are (a) greater reactor volume required for torrefying wood chips and consequently high capital expenses (CAPEX); (b) difficulty in densification; (c) frequent maintenance requirements due to the abrasive nature of torrefied biomass; and (d) safety concerns from fine generation. Torrefaction as a downstream operation, wherein white pellets are subsequently torrefied to produce black pellets, has the benefit of being a simple bolt-on integration. Downstream integration eliminates the need for additional grinding and pelletizing capacity, while minimizing plant-wide contamination due to dust generated from the processing of torrefied biomass. Furthermore, CAPEX can be reduced, as a typical torrefier has significantly higher throughput when processing pellets compared to wood chips. The limitation of downstream integration includes the potential compromise in pellet quality, especially a loss in strength and density. While the benefits of integrating torrefaction are numerous, the techno-economics for each pathway should be further examined.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Torrefaction in the Wood Pellet Industry: A Critical Review

Kumar

Koukoulas²,

Mani

et al. 2016

Energy Fuels

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“…In Germany, pellet based electricity generation by co-firing is not common, and pellets are a minor feedstock for biomass in CHP plants, that operates mainly with coal and refuse derived fuels [14]. Average price at mill gate for certified pellets was 175 €/t in 2012 [15]. In 2012 the bid price for imported pellets from USA and Canada was 135 €/t CIF Rotterdam, and the corresponding price for pellets from Central and Eastern Europe was 145 €/t at mill gate [16].…”

Section: Germanymentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic and Sustainability Comparative Study of Wood Pellets Production in Portugal, Germany and Sweden

Nunes¹,

Matias²,

Catalão³

2024

RE&PQJ

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Abstract. During the last decade wood pellets consumption grew rapidly. In this paper the development of the wood pellet production factors for markets in Germany, Sweden and Portugal are compared. Domestic market prices for pellet production factors as well as domestic market prices for pellets variation are analysed. The analysis are based on two model plants, representing the first common technologies for small scale production based on dry sawdust sources, and the second represents large scale production based on wet materials. The results show how differences in costs of raw materials, energy and labour affects wood pellets production. The economic sustainability for European pellet producers depends on their domestic markets as internationally traded pellets are priced lower than their production costs, being Portugal an exception due to lower labour and raw materials costs. Future pellet production will be based on wet raw materials such as logs and wet sawdust. These raw materials are also demanded by pulp and paper or fiberboard industries. The transition from smaller wood pellets plants using dry raw materials to larger plants using wet raw materials, can be expected to follow comparative advantages regarding raw materials, energy costs and economies of scale.

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“…In Germany, electricity produced from pellets by cofiring is not usual and pellets are small raw material for biomass in CHP plants, that operates mainly with coal-and refuse-derived fuels (Carneiro and Ferreira 2012). The common price at mill gate for certified pellets was 175 €/t in 2012 (Smith et al 2011). In 2012, the bid price for imported pellets from the USA and Canada was 135 €/t CIF Rotterdam, and have the comparable price for pellets from central and Eastern Europe was 145 €/t at mill gate (Goh et al 2013).…”

Section: Current Global Status Of Biomass Pellet Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomass Pellet Technology: A Green Approach for Sustainable Development

Malik

Pirzadah

Islam

et al. 2015

Agricultural Biomass Based Potential Materials

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The supply of sustainable or green energy is the main challenge that mankind will face over the coming decades, especially because of the need to address climatic changes. Biomass being abundantly available in nature can make a substantial contribution to cater future energy demands in a sustainable way. Currently, it is the largest universal contributor of green energy and has significant potential to expand in the production of electricity, heat and fuels. However, handling as well as direct combustion of biomass is restrained due to peculiar properties of this kind of fuel. As raw biomass possesses low density (30-50 kg/m 3 ) and high moisture content that limits its usage for energy purposes and it needs to be densified prior to its use. The compact and densified biomass possess a high magnitude of density as well as low moisture content which in turn helps to dwindle technical limitations associated with storage, handling and transportation. One immediate solution is the pelletisation of raw biomass that enhances its energy efficiency and enables the competition of biomass with other types of fuels. Besides, biomass pellet technology has gained a rapid momentum in many European countries. The future of the biomass pellet industry is greatly influenced by various environmental, economic, political as well as social aspects that create a multiplex relation among suppliers, producers and consumers. Therefore, the main aim of this chapter is to develop a comprehensive review of biomass processing that involves pellet production technology, energy efficiency of biomass pellet, current status, opportunities and challenges for the development of biomass pellet market.

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Analysis of the global production location dynamics in the industrial wood pellet market: an MCDA approach

Cited by 7 publications

References 20 publications

Integrating Torrefaction in the Wood Pellet Industry: A Critical Review

Integrating Torrefaction in the Wood Pellet Industry: A Critical Review

Economic and Sustainability Comparative Study of Wood Pellets Production in Portugal, Germany and Sweden

Biomass Pellet Technology: A Green Approach for Sustainable Development

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