“Biomass is a renewable resource, which simply means that as long as we use it responsibly, it will never run out, because it grows back” (3) Wood Heat Association.
Advantages of wood pellets
As long as wood fuel is produced from sustainable certified suppliers, it is a great alternative to fossil fuels. Pellets in particular are often made from waste wood products or from sustainable forests. They are very dense with a low moisture content (less than 10%) which means that they burn at a very high efficiency (1). Pellets are manufactured in the UK (as well as abroad) and seem to have a stable price (2).
When choosing pellets for a wood pellet boiler there are three certification symbols you need to look out for:
ENPlus A1
The ENPlus Scheme is a European wide quality assurance certificate (1). All pellet boilers require pellets of this standard.
BSL
This is the Biomass Suppliers List. It is a list of wood fuel that has proven it meets the eligibility requirements for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme; meeting the RHI sustainability requirements (4).
FSC
In short, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a global certification scheme to ensure that forests are managed responsibly, with regard to the forests and the people and animals that live in them (5).
UK Pellet Producers
Brites
Brites have two production plants, one in Northern Ireland and the other in Scotland. They claim that their pellets are manufactured purely from sawdust. You can buy their pellets in full, half or quarter pallets. You can order your pellets through the website and it will provide you with a quote, including delivery, beforehand.
• 75 x 10kg bags (750kg) full pallet
• 50 x 10kg bags (500kg) half pallet
• 25 x 10kg bags (250kg) quarter pallet
Certification: They are ENPlus A1, BSL and FSC certified.
There are many other suppliers and producers. Pure Biofuel for example, have their head quarters in the UK and in the Baltic’s. The Wood Pellet Guide has a list of suppliers:
Recycling the bags
Shredded Neat will recycle most pellet bags as well as the cling film wrapper and big plastic cover that covers the pallets, as long as the plastic is not black or a very dark colour.
Tel: 08082 507 482
Add: Shredded Neat Limited, Units M & N, Tidy Industrial Estate, Ditchling Common, Hassocks, BN6 8SG
Trade Associations
UK Pellet Council
Renewable Energy Association
Wood Heat Association
References
(1) UK Pellet Council http://www.pelletcouncil.org.uk/
(3) Wood Heat Association http://www.woodheatassociation.org.uk/fuel-type/wood-pellets/
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