10kW-175kW Wood Pellet Heating

Welsh Biofuels is the UK's first large scale Wood Pelletising Processing Plant. "It's a local solution for the global problem of climate change," says Martin Jolley of Welsh Biofuels, "we have identified a niche market driven by innovation based on proven technology". This technology is already used in many countries which have already harnessed the growth opportunities presented by bio-energy utilisation. Martin admits it's only a contribution towards solving the climate change problem but it's a start.

To date, Welsh Bio-fuels have installed several boilers throughout Wales, including:

• 23kW heating boiler at Manorbier and District County Association


• 23kW heating boiler at Multiple Organics in South Wales


• 11kW pellet fired stove in Gwynfro, West Wales


• 90 & 72 kW heating boiler in a Leisure centre at Llandyssul in West Wales


• 12kW pellet fired stove in Taiffordd Fawr, South Wales

"Wood pellets are manufactured from wood residues from many sources." Martin told us. "Wood that would normally go to landfill, such as old pallets, sawdust, shavings and off-cuts from furniture factories and other wood-working businesses will be made into pellets and sold as fuel."

The wood comes into our premises, and is first passed through a series of hammer mills, until it is fine enough to go into the final machine which consists of ring dies that force the woody material through an extruder.

The temperature goes up to about 80° Centigrade, and the heat and pressure bonds the wood particles together into a pellet. The outside of the pellet has a glazed shiny coating.

There will be three sizes of pellets, 6mm, 8mm and 12mm, and supply can be assured through fixed or discounted contracts with deliveries being made to users just like oil or coal.

Boilers Installations
As well as providing the wood pellet supply, Welsh Biofuels are also able to provide both domestic heating systems and commercial scale units. Starting from around £1,200, the 'ENVIROFIRE' price includes a hopper that holds enough pellets to keep the 11kW boiler going for 12 hours at maximum heat. With this said, a 20kg bag of pellets will probably last the average householder a week.

On a larger scale, the PASSAT range of automatic-feed boilers are suitable for schools and larger buildings with operating scales of 11kW upwards.

Prices
In terms of heating costs, pellets are able to compete with LPG gas and oil in the heating market, moreover Welsh Biofuels are able to offer a tracker contract where the cost of the pellet supply will track the equivalent cost of oil with a guaranteed discount of 10%. In this way, fuel savings are guaranteed over the cost of oil heating.