« Torrefaction
Barner are in pursuit of torrefied pellets. But unlike the lost cities and ancient relics, torrefied pellets exist. Finding a domestic, commercial-scale supply, however, has become a crusade among consumers. “I’ve become exasperated after multiple different phone calls with people who have these huge biomass plants, finding out they are in benchtop scale right now, and won’t be able to supply until they get more grant funding—or something similar—to build their plant,” says Mahoney, CEO of SEA Biofuels, which is looking to use torrefied pellets for its cook stoves for developing countries. Barner’s experiences, as director STOCKING UP: A supply of torrefied pellets at New Biomass Energy. of energy services at the University of North Carolina, have been similar. percent easier to crush, weigh less, and have similar caloric values “It’s been a series of hopeful-that-we-get-something, and then it goes to coal, but with fewer emissions. Additionally, in a pelletized form, away,” he says. He has been investigating on behalf of UNC, working shipping costs are lower because they are less bulky than biomass to secure test samples large enough to burn in the campus boilers. feedstocks, such as wood chips. Considering the numerous benefits Currently, torrefied pellets seem to be the most suitable option torrefied biomass offers, it doesn’t come as a surprise that some for coal-based operations, as they have more benefits than regular forestry consulting agencies, such as Hawkins Wright, have prewood pellets, according to those working with the technology. Tor- dicted the global demand for torrefied biomass to reach more than refied pellets are hydrophobic, do not decompose, are more than 70 70 million tons a year by 2020.
30 PELLET MILL MAGAZINE | Q1 2013
PHOTO: NEW BIOMASS ENERGY
Francisco Pizarro explored South America for the golden city of El Dorado. Juan Ponce DeLeon journeyed Florida for the Fountain of Youth. Patrick Mohney and Philip