Wood Biomass Wood Biomass BasicsBasics

Woody biomass: Thermal and combined heat and Woody biomass: Thermal and combined heat and power (CHP) technology, applications & opportunities.power (CHP) technology, applications & opportunities.

Rick DeMark, CoordinatorRick DeMark, CoordinatorNorth Country Resource Conservation & Development North Country Resource Conservation & Development

Area Council, New HampshireArea Council, New Hampshire

What is biomass?What is biomass? Biomass is any biological material that can be used as a Biomass is any biological material that can be used as a

fuel to produce heat, electricity, or both heat and power. fuel to produce heat, electricity, or both heat and power.

Woody biomass comes from forest harvesting or Woody biomass comes from forest harvesting or specificlly grown woody crops. specificlly grown woody crops.

Other common biomass fuels come from agricultural Other common biomass fuels come from agricultural crops or their residues and farm animal wastes.crops or their residues and farm animal wastes.

  

Forest ResiduesForest Residues

Whole Tree or Bole ChipsWhole Tree or Bole Chips

Manufactured Wood PelletsManufactured Wood Pellets

Why Use Biomass?Why Use Biomass?

Biomass fuel is a local product, grown and harvested on Biomass fuel is a local product, grown and harvested on local forests and farms. Dollars spent on biomass stay local forests and farms. Dollars spent on biomass stay in the local economy, create jobs and help sustain our in the local economy, create jobs and help sustain our land base. Removal of low grade forest residues can land base. Removal of low grade forest residues can improve overall forest health and value.improve overall forest health and value.

Biomass is easy to use and has a high energy content Biomass is easy to use and has a high energy content and is clean burning.and is clean burning.

Why Use Biomass? (cont)Why Use Biomass? (cont)

Prices are generally lower and more stable. Costs have Prices are generally lower and more stable. Costs have increased only 1 % per year over the past 20 years and increased only 1 % per year over the past 20 years and are historically lower than non renewable fossil fuelsare historically lower than non renewable fossil fuels

Good for the environment when burned with appropriate Good for the environment when burned with appropriate pollution controls and when harvested sustainably. pollution controls and when harvested sustainably. Replacing fossil fuels with biomass reduces greenhouse Replacing fossil fuels with biomass reduces greenhouse gasesgases

Why Use Biomass? (cont)Why Use Biomass? (cont)

Paying $40/ton for wood chips is the same as paying:Paying $40/ton for wood chips is the same as paying: $0.72/gallon for heating oil;$0.72/gallon for heating oil; $0.51/gallon for propane;$0.51/gallon for propane; $5.50/1000 cu. ft. for natural gas;$5.50/1000 cu. ft. for natural gas; $0.02/kWh for electricity.$0.02/kWh for electricity.

Paying $200/ton for pellets is the same as paying:Paying $200/ton for pellets is the same as paying: $1.67/gallon for heating oil; $1.67/gallon for heating oil; $1.18/gallon for propane; $1.18/gallon for propane; $12.50/1000 cu. ft. for natural gas; or $12.50/1000 cu. ft. for natural gas; or $0.04/kWh for electricity.$0.04/kWh for electricity.

  

For heating, one ton of

wood pellets equals…

120 gallons of heating oil

170 gallons of propane

16,000 ft3 of natural gas

4,775 kilowatt hours (kWh) electricity

Thermal Biomass ApplicationsThermal Biomass Applications

This boiler produces 6.74 MMBtu’s/hour using around 636 tons of This boiler produces 6.74 MMBtu’s/hour using around 636 tons of wood chips annually and heats 230,000 sq. ft. at the Merrimack wood chips annually and heats 230,000 sq. ft. at the Merrimack Valley High and Middle Schools in Pennacook, NHValley High and Middle Schools in Pennacook, NH

Wood chip receiving, storage and boiler facility at Wood chip receiving, storage and boiler facility at

Merrimack Valley High and Middle SchoolMerrimack Valley High and Middle School

Bulk delivery of pellets at NH Audubon Bulk delivery of pellets at NH Audubon CenterCenter

These wood pellet boilers heat the 30,000 sq foot These wood pellet boilers heat the 30,000 sq foot

town garage in Lyme, NHtown garage in Lyme, NH

The Crotched Mtn. Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, NH The Crotched Mtn. Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, NH

uses 1500 tons/year of whole tree chips to heat 320,000 sq ft and uses 1500 tons/year of whole tree chips to heat 320,000 sq ft and cool 74,000 sq ft of its campus. Two boilers (combined 12MMBtu) cool 74,000 sq ft of its campus. Two boilers (combined 12MMBtu) will be able to heat 600,000 sq ft. Saved $250,000 in their first year will be able to heat 600,000 sq ft. Saved $250,000 in their first year and estimate $1 million/year over time. and estimate $1 million/year over time.

Sources of additional informationSources of additional information

North Country Resource Conservation & Development—www.nhrcd.net

Northeast District Energy Corporation—www.energy.rochester.edu/ndec/ Biomass Energy Resource Center—www.biomasscenter.org Fuels for Schools—www.fuelsforschools.org New England Wood Pellets—www.pelletheat.com Crotched Mountain Woodchip

Plant—www.crotchedmountain.org/crotchedmountain/html/woodchipplant.htm

International District Energy Association—www.districtenergy.org Danish Board of District Heating—www.dbdh.dk/ Biomass Thermal Energy Council www.biomassthermal.org US Forest Service National Association of State Energy Officials Biomass Thermal Energy Council www.biomassthermal.org

Community

Roadmap

to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy

A Step-by Step Decision-Making Tool forNew Hampshire Communities

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP

The Roadmap is a decision-making tool to help communities decide if woody biomass heating/cooling is a good choice for their energy future.

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP

The

Roadmap is a detailed plan

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP

Community gathers information

Community evaluates information

Community makes decisions

1. Establish community goals

2. Evaluate a biomass project

The

Roadmap has two main components:

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP

• Makes good use of local expertise• Allows people to gain new information• Allows leaders to gauge community interest• Result is better, well-informed decision-making

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP

Community Engagement

• We Have Lower Energy Costs • We Are Energy Independent • Our Energy is Reliable• We Emit Less Carbon • We Rely on Renewable Energy Resources• We Are Energy Efficient • We Have a Strong Local Economy

Community Energy goals

May include the following:

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP

Biomass Project Evaluation

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP

• Project Characteristics• Building Information• Existing Fuel Use• Existing Heat & Distribution System• Biomass Energy System• Biomass Fuel• Emissions, Permitting & Air Quality

At the end of the journey, a community will have a pretty good idea of whether it makes sense to pursue one or more biomass projects.

Community

Roadmap

COMMUNITY BIOMASS ROADMAP