Page 72 - North American Clean Energy January February 2014

biopower

Left: Industrial wood pellets

Below: Overview of the number of US jobs currently in the
forestry industry

Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

The power of wood pellets

By Seth Ginther

FOR DECADES, we’ve been seeking alternatives to fossil fuels because of the negative efects The appeal
of burning coal and oil on the environment. Yet, concerns about cost, reliability, and Dozens of respected scientists wrote

Fossil fuel production and consumption capacity needs have slowed the adoption of renewable energy on either a national or global a letter to Congress in 2010, to voice
has hundreds of years of history and,
utility-scale level.
support for a growing US industrial
Nevertheless, ongoing projects and eforts are continuous—and for good reason. Fossil wood pellet industry based on the cost
in comparison, the use of renewable fuels are the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world, contributing to three-quarters and environmental beneits. heir
energy is still in its infancy. Here are
of all carbon, methane, and other greenhouse gas emissions. Ongoing research and new, letter maintained that: “Carbon dioxide
some reasons for change, according to alternative sources of energy provide hope for power that one day won’t harm the earth.
released from the combustion or decay
the Energy Information Administration One recent alternative: industrial wood pellets. Currently, the United States stands as
of woody biomass is part of the global
(www.eia.gov):
a world leader in forestry management production, so it seems only itting that related cycle of biogenic carbon, and does
• 98% of energy production in the wood waste and unused forestry debris could provide a usable energy source, rather than not increase the amount of carbon in
just being discarded. As utilities in other parts of the world are also discovering, industrial circulation. In contrast, carbon dioxide
United States still comes from non- wood pellets address today’s pressing energy concerns, from reducing carbon emissions released from fossil fuels increases the
renewable sources;
and controlling power costs, to increasing capacity and maintaining reliability.
amount of carbon in the cycle.”
• More than 2.5 million metric tons of Utilities in Europe, for example, are already on the path to creating a brighter energy he scientists’ letter also warned
future for EU citizens by increasing use of pellets as a renewable energy source. Research policymakers that claims to the
carbon is produced by power plants; there has demonstrated clear advantages of using industrial wood pellets as an alternative contrary were based on misinformation
and
to traditional, coal-ired utility plants.
that could wind up encouraging US
• The US consumes more than 20 utilities to stick with more damaging
The science
fossil fuels. Nearly three years on, it
million barrels of oil per day, with Pellets are a form of woody biomass (although other sources of biomass, from crops
appears these beneits (and concerns)
more than one million tons of coal
for instance, can also be made into pellets) that’s dried and processed into an easily are well founded.
consumed annually.
combustible form. Wood pellets are clean to handle and ideal for use in automatic heating Today, the US industrial wood
systems. hey serve as a particularly eicient source of heat because they contain very pellet industry is still growing, but its
low levels of moisture and ash, so when burned, virtually all of the material is used up and beneits are largely being exported.

converted to heat or energy.
Industrial wood pellets are produced primarily in the Southeastern US from low-quality The forests
wood iber, including forestry byproducts that would otherwise go to waste. Along with Concern over the depletion of trees and forests is an important issue raised in relation to
saving the costs of waste, the product of wood pellets actually release up to 90% less the wood pellet industry. However, the US Forest Service has recorded steady increases

carbon than coal. In addition, burning wood pellets, instead of coal, emits fewer heavy in the number of trees per acre in all regions of the country for more than 50 years. he
metals and other pollutants into the air we breathe. In fact, trees are generally considered United States not only leads the world in forestry, but also in sustainable forest practices.
carbon neutral—meaning any wood technically absorbs as much carbon during its lifetime A comprehensive framework of laws, regulations, programs, and practices has been
as it gives of while being burned.
developed over decades, and are continuously adapted to local conditions.

72 nacleanenergy.com
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014