The Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia invests and supports projects that create more resilient forests, better protect communities and increase the use of wood that would otherwise be burned or wasted.
By Caitlin Scheresky
18 FIRE & EXPLOSION
A Never-Ending Pursuit
Fire and explosion protection experts share insights regarding product improvements, personnel training and technological advancements. By Keith Loria
Pellet
Simet
CONTRIBUTIONS
24 STANDARDS
NFPA 660: The New New Standard for Combustible Dust
NFPA 660 combines six existing standards into one that covers all industries in which combustible dust and particulates are generated.
By Brian Edwards
28 STANDARDS
Pursuing a New CSA Standard to Heat Canada With Wood Pellets
Adoption of the European standard would allow more Canadians access to efficient, low-carbon, small-scale biomass central heating systems.
By Gordon Murray and Dutch Dresser
America’s Wood Energy Unleashed
BY TIM PORTZ
In early April, the Pellet Fuels Institute completed a congressional fly-in, finding Washington, D.C, and the federal government much changed since our last visit just 11 months ago. In May 2024, the Biden administration was winding down, with the prospects for a second term seeming improbable. Republicans in Congress seemed content to wait for the election, feeling confident that they might regain the majority in the 119th Congress.
This spring, our fly-in contingent found itself navigating a Congress in reaction mode to a spate of executive orders and tariff announcements. Capitol Hill was busy, as industry trade groups of all stripes were visiting their policymakers and sharing the potential impacts of President Trump’s tariffs to their businesses, hoping for some guidance on when the bigger ticket legislative packages might start to move.
The PFI’s strategy for the 2025 spring fly-in was twofold. First, as with every PFI advocacy effort, was to educate and remind policymakers about the role wood pellet manufacturing plays in their state and how the sector provides a paying off-taker for the residue streams that are generated by upstream sawmills and secondary forest product manufacturing sites. Of our 29 congressional meetings, 10 were with new members of Congress. In those meetings, we spent more time establishing the impact of pellet manufacturing on their state’s forest product economy. And why not? In many states, wood pellet manufacturing has a sizable footprint worthy of a thorough review. In Pennsylvania, wood pellet manufacturers purchase 500,000 tons of wood waste annually, generating nearly $20 million in revenue for upstream fiber producers. Those residues are then converted into 350,000 tons of finished heating pellets worth nearly $80 million wholesale. This $100 million economic contribution to the state’s economy does not include the impact of the pellet appliance manufacturing site operated by PFImember Hearth & Home Technologies in Halifax, nor the impact of the state’s roster of hearth retailers selling both pellets and pellet appliances to consumers. The handful of minutes required to establish these important metrics at each meeting created a foundation upon which the remainder of the meeting was built.
Part two of this year’s strategy was to connect our regulatory and policy goals with two recent executive orders issued by Trump. Our intent was to make it clear, specifically with the Republican majority, that the Farm Bill provisions,
appliance tax credit support and enhancements, and regulatory relief we were seeking closely aligned with the spirit of these recent orders.
In his “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production” order released on March 1, Trump established that “the production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy and other wood products (timber production) is critical to our nation’s well-being.” Certainly, this is a strong endorsement of wood products and wood pellets specifically, but another executive order issued earlier in the president’s second term put an even finer point on our fly-in goals, particularly our calls for regulatory relief. In his executive order issued Jan. 20, Trump noted, “In recent years, burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations have impeded the development of these resources, limited the generation of reliable and affordable electricity, reduced job creation, and inflicted high energy costs upon our citizens. These high energy costs devastate American consumers by driving up the cost of transportation, heating, utilities, farming and manufacturing, while weakening our national security.”
For wood pellet manufacturers, this tone represented a welcome change from the anti-combustion rhetoric so prevalent in both the states and federal government in the recent past. This sentiment stands in stark contrast to state bans on the installation of natural gas infrastructure, or the introduction of bills like Washington’s SB 5174, which would have allowed the state’s ecology department to develop and issue its own list of approved wood-burning appliances, irrespective of the U.S. EPA’s current emissions criteria and list of approved pellet-burning appliances.
Administrations change. So, too, does the balance of power in Congress, and although the value of wood pellet manufacturing to our country’s forest product and rural economies is consistent and unchanged, for our advocacy efforts to have a chance of success, the way we articulate our policy and regulatory efforts must change with them.
Author: Tim Portz Executive Director, Pellet Fuels Institute
tim@pelletheat.org www.pelletheat.org
The company also reported that Drax Power Station operated well during the first quarter. Drax is working to finalize an agreement that would provide transitional support to the facility as it works to develop bioenergy with carbon capture and storage capabilities. The transitional support would be in the form of a contract for difference that would be in effect from April 2027 to March 2031.
US Densified Biomass Fuel Sales at 940,000 Tons in January
United States manufacturers produced approximately 870,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in January, according to the April edition of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report. Sales reached 940,000 tons during the month.
The 75 operating manufacturers from which the EIA collected data had a total combined production capacity of 13.13 million tons per year and a collective equivalent of 2,798 full-time employees. Respondents purchased 920,000 tons of raw biomass feedstock in January, produced 870,000 tons of densified biomass fuel, and sold 940,000 tons. Production included 130,255 tons of heating pellets and 744,044 tons of utility pellets.
Domestic sales of densified biomass fuel in January reached 165,321 tons at an average price of $234.96 per ton. Exports in January reached 770,622 tons at an average price of $203.55 per ton. Inventories of premium/standard pellets fell to 195,523 tons in January, down from 250,018 tons in December. Inventories of utility pellets expanded to 505,440 tons in January, up from 462,086 tons in December.
Leading the Way
Darrell Smith chats with Pellet Mill Magazine about his new role as executive director of the U.S. Industrial Pellet Association.
BY ANNA SIMET
In March, the U.S. Industrial Pellet Association announced that it had appointed Darrell Smith as its new executive director. Smith took the reins from interim ED Elizabeth Woodworth, who held the role for 18 months. Despite some uncertainty and potential challenges ahead, Smith is steadfast in his optimism regarding the many benefits offered by wood pellets and their role in global decarbonization efforts.
Congratulations on your new role as executive director at USIPA. Tell us about your background leading up to now.
Smith: I’ve spent my career at the intersection of public policy, environment, sustainability and safety, representing industries that help keep the world running, from mining and petroleum to waste and chemicals. Before coming to USIPA, I served as president and CEO of the National Waste and Recycling Association, and as executive vice president of the Essential Minerals Association. Both roles gave me the opportunity to advocate for responsible, sustainable practices in some of our most critical industries.
Before I made the move to Washingon, D.C., and got into public policy, I worked hands-on in safety and environmental roles across a range of industries. That experience provided a practical foundation that’s helped me bridge the gap between the operational side of industry and the public policy world. I’m also a Certified Association Executive and a Certified Industrial Hygienist, which have both been valuable tools.
What excites you the most about the industrial wood pellet industry?
Smith: Our industry is driving solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges like energy security and climate change. We’re supporting sustainable forest management at home while using renewable, sustainably sourced biomass to
displace millions of tons of fossil fuels abroad each year. That kind of real-world impact is powerful.
The industry has a tremendous growth story, having increased pellet exports fivefold over the past decade. I think there’s incredible opportunity to maintain this impressive growth trajectory, especially considering our ability to help meet the increasing global demand for renewable carbon.
As executive director, what are your top priorities for the coming year?
Smith: One of the things I’ve learned in other sectors that I want to amplify at USIPA is that industry players are much stronger together, whether its addressing policy challenges or developing new business opportunities. In that spirit, one area I’m focused on is growing and broadening USIPA’s membership. There are many companies and organizations that can benefit from our unified voice, and I hope to bring them on board and significantly expand USIPA’s member roster.
Another priority area is building and improving USIPA’s offerings to our members. We’ve already made progress on this front by beefing up our member communications and creating several new working groups to help better address critical areas like safety, transportation and air emissions.
U.S. trade is facing challenges with the new administration—do you see it impacting wood pellet exports?
Smith: Like all industries, we’re navigating the administration’s new approach to trade policy and related uncertainty that comes with this magnitude of change. We’ve seen no impact on pellet exports so far, but are keeping a close eye on how new trade agreements, tariffs or regulatory changes could affect market access and competitiveness.
Wood waste salvaged after harvesting operations is used to create bioenergy.
IMAGE: TIFFANY CHRISTIANSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Once a leader in North American forestry, a chronic wood shortage has impacted British Columbia since the 1990s, when a pine beetle infestation took the region by storm. The epidemic impacted over 18 million hectares (approx. 44.5 million acres) of B.C. forest, peaking in 2005. The Canadian government determined that 723 million cubic meters, or 53% of marketable pine volume, was lost by 2012, and by 2017, a total of 752 million cubic meters, or 58% of marketable pine volume, was estimated to be lost because of the epidemic. Paired with unsustainable timber regulations and significant wildfires, B.C.’s wood product industries continue to face an uphill battle.
At the forefront of the battle is the Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia, which recently received a $28 million package from the province to tackle the shortage and reduce wildfire risks through several new projects that may be announced in the coming weeks. “The Forest Enhancement Society of BC reviews proposals from forest managers and invests in forest management practices that make forests more resilient, communities safer from wildfire, and increase the productive use of wood waste from forest management and harvesting that would otherwise be burned,” says FESBC Executive Director Jason Fisher. The recent $28 million funding influx will continue that effort.
Back to Our Roots
Founded in 2016, the FESBC’s lifeblood lies within wildfire prevention and forestry preservation. “We exist to advance environmental and resource stewardship of B.C.’s forests ... to advocate for the environmental and resource stewardship of B.C.’s forests, and to carry out all other activities that support the stated purposes and exercise the society’s powers,” Fisher said. The FESBC has supported over 400 projects, each with the intent of wildfire reduction and fiber recovery.
“Wood is an amazingly versatile and beautiful material,” Fisher says. “Wood is used to create building materials like lumber, plywood and other wood products. It is also used to generate pulp and paper, wood pellets, and bioenergy, sometimes referred to as green energy.”
With applications in all walks of life, it’s no surprise that the FESBC’s work has gone far from unnoticed. Fahimeh Yazdan Panah, director of research and technical development at the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, describes the partnership between the FESBC and WPAC as pivotal to the pellet industry. WPAC, established in 2006, boasts over 50 members and advocates sustainability, safety, awareness and innovation in the pellet industry. “Our vision is a vibrant, globally competitive Canadian wood pellet industry, safely producing a clean, efficient and sustainable form of energy for world markets,” Yazdan Panah says.
The wood fiber shortage has forced the wood pellet industry into a difficult position, Yazdan Panah explains. “Canada experienced a record-breaking 15 million hectares of forest burned in 2023,” she says, adding that B.C. forest policy has created challenges in accessing Crown timber. “Although 95% of forests are governmentowned, harvesting requires permits that have been increasingly difficult to obtain,”
Jason Fisher Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia
she says. “As a result, we're harvesting only approximately 60% of the allowable cut.” Sawmill closures have also impacted the pellet industry in B.C., Yazdan Panah says. Major sawmill closures due to decreasing resources have limited pellet producers’ access to feedstock, but she notes that this uncertainty has not deterred the pellet industry. In 2024 alone— decades after the initial pine beetle infestation in the 1990s—over 3 million tons of Canadian wood pellets were exported.
A Team Effort
The success of the FESBC’s projects wouldn’t be nearly as great without its close partnership with the First Nations community. “The FESBC has worked with [the] First Nations since the beginning of its mandate,” Fisher says. “Our programs are applicant-driven, and many of our applicants are First Nations.
“Often, First Nations hold the forest tenure on which the funded activities will be carried out. In addition, non-First Na-
Small and defective logs can be utilized to manufacture wood pellets or generate heat and power.
IMAGE: TIFFANY CHRISTIANSON PHOTOGRAPHY
tion applicants often have partnerships with First Nations, hire First Nation-owned businesses as contractors, or have some other relationship that benefits First Nations,” he adds. Fisher cites two primary programs for investment: one that supports projects that reduces wildfire risk, and one that “supports the collection and use of wood waste from forest management and harvesting activities.”
For the First Nations and the planet, fire is a way of life and a process of rebirth and renewal. In a video titled “Living with
Fire” by the Westbank First Nation, CEO of Ntityix Resources Mic Werstuik explains the importance of fire in the Westbank First Nation. “Fire was always used by our people as a management tool...We have to use that tool,” he says.
The variety of fires that can appear in forestry vary from manmade to natural. “Wildfires are fires that occur unintentionally in forest ecosystems. They can be caused by human activity or lightning,” Fisher explains. “Slash burning is the pro-
is primarily made up of defective logs, branches and tops of trees. This is an intentional fire set to remove the wood waste or fuel, which in turn helps reduce the risk of future wildfires and creates more spaces for planting new trees.”
It is with this fire that the work of the First Nations and the FESBC finds its focus. By collectively removing and burning slash, wildfires lose proverbial steam much more quickly. As a result, wildfires are significantly less intense.
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Project partners Adam Sullivan of Forsite and Ernie McIvor of Lower Nicola Indian Band visit the site of an FESBC-funded project.
IMAGE: TIFFANY CHRISTIANSON PHOTOGRAPHY
An example of slash piles from forest thinning activities. IMAGE: TIFFANY CHRISTIANSON PHOTOGRAPHY
‘Expanding Canadian demand for pellets could lower heating costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen rural economies and create new, stable markets for forest residues and low-grade timber.’
- Fahimeh Yazdan Panah, WPAC
Similar to those of slash burns, prescribed burns are fires deliberately started to remove fuel from future fires. According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, prescribed burns “are started in specific, predetermined locations and carefully controlled, so they do not cause harm to people, animals and property.” Prescribed burns are often confused with controlled burns, which
are merely fires that are started with an intent of controlling its effects, like that of a campfire, which can turn into wildfires. Prescribed burns must abide by several parameters to ensure safety and definite control, and very few turn into wildfires.
While fire serves an important role in the ecosystem, its impact on the environment can serve as a negating factor. “When
slash is burned, it releases greenhouse gases that are more potent than CO2, as well as smoke that can be harmful to living creatures,” Fisher notes. “These effects can be mitigated by building appropriate slash piles and only burning on days where weather conditions support the dispersal of smoke.”
Balance, then, is needed to navigate the climate effects of burns. This puts producers in prime position to contribute. “Depending on how far the slash is located from businesses that can consume it, such as pulp mills, green energy facilities and wood pellet manufacturers, the material in slash piles could support the manufacturing of pulp and paper, wood pellets or bioenergy,” Fisher says.
The quality of wood can impact where it goes in the pipeline, he explains. “If logs are defective because they are crooked, damaged, cracked, burnt or too small, they might not be suitable for making highervalue construction products like lumber or plywood. Some of those logs might alternatively be suitable for making pulp and paper. The smallest and most defective logs might still be able to be utilized to generate wood pellets or bioenergy which can offset the need to utilize fossil fuels.
“Wood pellet producers can effectively use materials that are derived from slash piles.” Fisher continues. The barrier to slash use as wood pellet feedstock comes with the often steep cost of processing and transport. “Burned wood can be used to make wood pellets and bioenergy. Depending on the severity of the fire and how long ago it moved through an area, some burned wood can even be used to make building products like lumber,” he says.
Fahimeh Yazdan Panah Wood Pellet Association of Canada
The Path Ahead
As the shortage continues, further support from the province of British Columbia is crucial to continue this effort. “We are so thankful that the FESBC receives $20 million per year from B.C.’s Ministry of Forests,” Fisher expresses. “We will use this funding to continue to invest in and support projects that create more resilient forests, better protect communities and increase the use of wood that would otherwise be wasted and burned.” Fisher notes that the FESBC is open to future partnerships with funders and agencies to extend its reach and impact. “There are more areas to be treated for wildfire risk and more waste wood to be collected and used than the FESBC has funding for,” he says.
The process of recovery won’t be easy. The Trump administration’s tariff war on Canada extends to the pellet industry, particularly in the realm of sawmill residues, Yazdan Panah says. “The pellet industry relies heavily on sawmill residues, and as tariffs make lumber exports less competitive, more mills are reducing operations or shutting down altogether, reducing the available feedstock for pellets,” she explains. Investment uncertainties could also influence production, further intensifying the industry’s strain under the wood fiber shortage.
Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs don’t directly target the pellet industry, according to Yazdan Panah, but the trade war offers rough waters for the forestry industry. However, this could offer domestic benefits, she notes. “Right now, Canada exports over 90% of its wood pellets, helping countries like Japan and the United Kingdom reduce emissions, but very little is used domestically,” she says. “Expanding Canadian demand for pellets could lower heating costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen rural economies, and create new, stable markets for forest residues and low-grade timber. With the right approach, Canada can turn international trade turbulence into an opportunity for energy security and climate leadership at home.”
The path to a sustainable future could extend beyond what is currently prescribed for wood products. “I am optimistic that there are many more uses for [slash] wood that are waiting to be discovered and commercialized,” Fisher says.
Whatever the path, Werstuik and the First Nations remind us that fire will be a part of it. “Utilizing fire—reintroducing fire to the landscape, investing in fuel mitigation work—it’s not to stop wildfire. It’s to mitigate the impacts,” he adds. “We need to learn how to live with fire.”
Fire and explosion protection experts share insights regarding product improvements, personnel training and technological improvements.
BY KEITH LORIA
Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the fire and explosion protection sector, and vendors are bringing forth new innovations to improve plant protection and safety. As producers strive to strengthen safety protocols and protect their facilities and employees, industry experts are focusing on continued advancements such as smart sensors and integrated response systems while identifying key areas for improvement.
Meeting Industry Needs
IEP Technologies has been involved in explosion protection since 1958. Formed from four leading explosion protection companies in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland, the company’s roots stem back to the first application of industrial explosion protection in the early 1950s by Graviner Ltd. The company has
installed thousands of systems around the world since its inception and has been a key contributor to safety regulations such as NFPA 660. “We helped create the prescriptive requirements that are necessary to help keep these facilities safe,” says David Grandaw, vice president of sales for the Marlborough, Massachusetts-based company. “Included in that is the requirement for explosion mitigation.”
Per the nature of technology, explosion protection has evolved over the decades. In recent years, Grandaw says he’s seen much innovation being done with passive explosion protection, which typically falls into the categories of standard explosion vents, passive flat-valve-style explosion isolation devices, rotary airlock valves and flameless explosion vents, of which IEP has two different styles that are used in the biomass industry.
Some new innovations from IEP center on detection, according to Grandaw. “When you have an explosion, there’s pressure that’s
traveling at the speed of sound, but the fireball is only traveling maybe 3 to 10 meters a second, so there’s a gap between the pressure wave and the flame front,” he explains. “We take advantage of that by using pressure-activated explosion detectors. The big innovation has been in the use of rate-of-rise pressure sensors, so rather than just being a pressure switch that could go off due to process pressure variation, these are detecting an explosive rate of pressure increase, and this helps filter out any false discharges.”
Another well-known company in the fire prevention space, Fagus GreCon has been manufacturing innovative spark detection and extinguishing systems for more than 50 years. Its InfraRed sensors detect sparks and embers to automatically trigger countermeasures that enable elimination of early causes of fires and explosions.
“Common causes of fires in wood bioenergy production are heat, sparks, embers
says Flamex has consistently seen is failure of plant management to recognize the fire and explosion hazards present at the facilities in which they operate. “Despite the large amount of attention devoted to the dangers inherent in combustible dust and the efforts made by the NFPA and loss control community, there is still ignorance among mill operators on this topic,” Wagoner says. “Examples include large dust accumulations on various surfaces and equipment, which sometimes even reach the point that they engulf actively running motors; explosion vents on dust collectors that are sometimes absent or placed in dangerous locations; as well as poorly designed dust collection systems that do not allow proper suction to effectively evacuate the dust particulate through the system.”
The best solution to avoid these and other dangerous potential pitfalls, he says, is through obtaining a dust hazard analysis by a competent professional.
Grandaw points to one thing that is missed more than any other: the stoppage
dramatically. The existing explosion protection measures are often inadequate.”
In Obarski’s opinion, the area with the greatest potential for improvement within the industry is ensuring the reliability and functionality of existing fire and explosion protection systems. “In many such cases, the process that the protection equipment was originally designed for is constantly changing,” he says. “It is very important to keep the existing safeguards in mind as the process is evolving.”
Advancing with AI and Automation
Technological advancements are opening up new possibilities to facilitate and improve the level of safety in industrial facilities. For example, Flamex is breaking new ground with the use of virtual reality (VR) technology to assist customers remotely and provide training for plant personnel in the operation and maintenance of their systems. “This allows customers to gain specific, relevant training experience in operating and
sion. “We also use computer modeling to determine the mid-max distances, size and type of nozzle necessary to effectively stop an explosion from propagating from one vessel to another,” Grandaw says.
While automation and AI are being looked at to shape the future of fire and explosion protection, it’s still early in the development and there are limitations in regard to how quickly advancements can be made. “Since spark detection and extinguishment systems require long-term development, testing, certification and adherence to standards, AI is being used on the product development side of things right now,” Peterson says.
Finally, perhaps the most critical component to fire and explosion protection puzzle is plant personnel training and education.
Employee Training and the Future
Employee training is paramount when working in a facility handling combustible dust. Obarski notes that even the best fire protection systems can be severely com
and systems in place to ensure proper use, maintenance and service is conducted.”
Peterson agrees that training is critical to the successful implementation of any fire system. Fagus GreCon’s systems capture the history of occurrences at every site, which allows the company to understand the number and type of issues that are occuring. “We get the best feedback when we do our periodic maintenance, when our team is on-site and hears about the challenges, issues and concerns that the customers express to them directly,” Peterson says. “Usually, this is relating to improving the intuitiveness of the system or improving the user experience.”
The fire and explosion protection industry will continue to evolve, whether through new processes, unconventional process layouts or even new standards such as NFPA 660. “Future trends are likely to involve more automation, requiring less human interaction,” Peterson adds. “[This includes] an emphasis on early detection of developing fires and more unconventional methods for detection and suppression, such as the use of drones and thermal imaging.”
Author: Keith Loria writer@bbiinternational.com
Explosion suppression bottles (red) and explosion vents (atop the conveyor) are two components used to protect wood fiber-using processes.
IMAGE: CV TECHNOLOGY
NFPA 660: The New Standard for Combustible Dust
Revamped combustible dust standards make it simpler for the wood pellet industry and others to understand how to protect against fires and dust explosions.
For the past 10 years, the National Fire Protection Association has been working to consolidate several industry-specific standards for combustible dust. In December 2024, the NFPA completed its goal by issuing “NFPA 660–Standard for Combustible Dusts and Particulate Solids.” This new standard combines six existing standards,
BY BRIAN EDWARDS
including NFPA 61 (agricultural dust) and NFPA 664 (wood dust), into a single standard that covers all industries where combustible dust and particulates are generated, used and handled.
Building permitting authorities, code enforcers and fire agencies use the NFPA standards to establish the basis of design
and operation for new and existing industrial sites, so it’s important for pellet mill owners and operators to be aware of NFPA requirements, especially for new projects and plant modifications. NFPA 660 covers both administrative and engineering requirements at facilities with combustible dust, and its goal is to minimize fires and explo-
CONTRIBUTION: The claims and statements made in this article belong exclusively to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pellet Mill Magazine or its advertisers. All questions pertaining to this article should be directed to the author(s).
SAF Magazine, in collaboration with the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), will showcase the latest strategies for aviation fuel decarbonization, solutions for key industry challenges, and highlight the current opportunities for airlines, corporations and fuel producers.
The North American SAF Conference & Expo is designed to promote the development and adoption of practical solutions to produce SAF and decarbonize the aviation sector. Exhibitors will connect with attendees and showcase the latest technologies and services currently offered within the industry.
Pursuing a New CSA Standard to Heat Canada with Wood Pellets
Adoption of the European standard would allow Canadians access to efficient, small-scale biomass central heating systems that many across the world now enjoy.
BY DUTCH DRESSER AND GORDON MURRAY
As the world’s coldest country, Canada consumes a lot of energy for home heating. Space heating accounts for 64% of Canadian residential, commercial and institutional energy consumption. The most common energy sources are natural gas, electricity and heating oil.
Compare this with Sweden and Finland, where biomass is the dominant heat energy source. In Sweden, biomass provides 66% of space heating, and in Finland, the figure is 59%. The two countries use district heating networks and modern, small-scale biomass boilers designed to the European standard EN 303-5.
Biomass central heating is a mainstay in much of Europe. Western European boiler manufacturers have invested heavily in the research and design of pellet boilers, creating efficient and clean-burning systems that are fully automatic and reliable. The most advanced of these boilers recover heat from flue gas, so even
CONTRIBUTION: The claims and statements made in this article belong exclusively to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Pellet Mill Magazine or its advertisers. All questions pertaining to this article should be directed to the author(s).
