Why should you choose wood pellets?
WHAT ARE RBS CRAFT PELLETS AND HOW ARE THEY PRODUCED?
In the introduction, we are going to provide a description of wood pellets and explain how they are produced. Wood pellets are made of the residuals of quality wood, which cannot be used in the wood industry.
This raw material is pressed into cylindrically shaped pieces without any chemical additives. Their diameter is 6 mm and their length is between 3,15 mm and 40 mm.
The technical requirements that wood pellets need to meet are in accordance with the international standard for pellets ISO 17225-2.
WHY ARE WOOD PELLETS AS ENERGY SOURCE A GOOD CHOICE?
Good price, stability and power
Due to their density resulting from pressing, wood pellets are provided with identical characteristics as other energy products. In addition, further price analysis shows the reasons for high rankings of wood pellets. Price stability is ensured since the raw material used is of local origin and it is hence independent of global policies. Even the expected price increases are considerably inferior compared with fossil fuels.
Wood is practically a renewable source that is greatly widespread, whereas pellet production costs are significantly inferior compared with processing of fossil fuels such as oil or gas. Moreover, there is no environmental pollution; quantities of available raw material are unlimited, as opposed to fossil fuels. Thermal energy derived from 1 kg of wood pellets corresponds to around 5 kW/h or 1 liter of heating oil.
Simplicity and practicality
Furthermore, both transportation and storage of wood pellets are considerably simpler compared with fuelwood, since pellets are transported in bags and in storage rooms they occupy half as much space in terms of volume. Annual quantity required per modern family home can be stored in 4 m2 surface area.
In case you wish to switch from heating oil to pellets, the storage space that was formerly intended for heating oil is normally sufficient also for pellet storage. In terms of practicality, pellets can be delivered more frequently in smaller quantities throughout the heating season.
Environmentally friendly
Wood pellets upon combustion release carbon dioxide (CO2), which living trees use in their development and transform into oxygen. Consequently, wood pellet heating is deemed carbon neutral, since this is a closed circuit and it is hence extremely acceptable from an environmental aspect.
If you opt for wood pellet heating, CO2 emissions into the atmosphere will be reduced by around 2.6 tonnes per 100 square meters of living space on an annualized level. This is a fact that certainly needs to be considered.
Device compatibility and comfort of use
Upon switching to wood pellet heating, one does not need to change the entire heating system, as a large proportion of it will still be used. Moreover, in conjunction with devices that use other renewable energy sources, such as solar-powered devices, this method has shown high compatibility and extreme effectiveness.
Irrespective of whether you opt for an automatic or semi-automatic stove, it independently controls combustion and feeds new pellets. One only needs to make sure there is a sufficient quantity of pellets in the tank.
Clean combustion
Wood pellets have extremely clean combustion and they have a very low ash content, so the cleaning of the ash tank is required only after every several weeks or months.
What are pellet quanittties required on an annualised level?
Depending on the heat output of the stove, annual requirements are calculated as follows. If one 10kW stove is used for the heating of an area of 100 square meters of living space, then on average from 1 tonne to 1.5 tonnes of wood pellets are required on an annualized level. In case of a 15 kW stove, which is normally required for the heating of a family home, annual requirements range from 4 tonnes to 5 tonnes of wood pellets.
Who are wood pellets for fuel ideally intended for?
Wood pellet heating can normally be used in any building, irrespective of whether it is a family home, a residential or commercial property, a newly-built or a previously built building.