 Skanden biomass heating systems can be fueled with a
variety of biomass, including:
- wood pellets
- wood chips
- briquettes
- agripellets
- many grains
- animal waste (requires pelletization or
modifications to feeding mechanism)
Unless you have an equine center, farm, or other
readily available supply of free fuel, you will
likely burn wood pellets or chips.
Pellets are a low ash, high-energy, convenient fuel
that can be easily stored for long periods of time.
They are made from either mill waste or "off-spec"
roundwood sourced from sustainable yield forests. In
contrast with roundwood used by pulp mills and
sawmills, pellets can be made from "off-spec" wood,
which includes the branches and tops that are
usually left on the forest floor and often ignite
causing forest fires. They are produced in an
environmentally friendly manner, without additives,
by mills that typically utilize biomass generators
rather than coal-derived electricity. Thus, they are
carbon-neutral in their production as well as their
combustion.
There are many benefits of using biomass fuel:
- Cost
- Supports
Rural America
- Environmentally
Friendly (carbon neutral,
ultra-low emissions, renewable, forest-friendly,
local production minimizes environmental impact of
transportation, etc.)
- National
Security Strengthened by Reducing
Dependence on Foreign Oil
- Proven Equipment
For farms and other facilities with a biomass waste, fuel will be free. For others, fuel will still be very inexpensive. The most costly biomass fuel, wood pellets, is less than half the energy-equivalent price of oil. If you are a large facility, Skanden can provide pellets at a fixed price for up to five years. The price will vary with location, but it will generally be in the range of $180-$200/ton, the equivalent of $1.50-$1.67/gallon. Compare that with your last oil bill!
Rather than purchase imported oil and boost the
economies of oil-rich countries, wouldn't you
rather buy fuels produced in rural areas of the
U.S?
With the recent closure of many forestry-related
businesses, including sawmills, pulpmills,
lumber companies, etc., the rural economy of the
U.S. has suffered tremendously and unemployment
has risen to over 15% in some areas. New pellet
mills are starting up in some of these deserted
facilities. As these new mills begin production,
jobs are created. By converting to pellet
heating, you are putting your dollars to good
use in rural America.
The use of biomass heating helps the environment
in many ways:
All forms of natural biomass are carbon neutral.
For example, with wood, the carbon released
during combustion is the same amount as is
consumed during the lifetime of the tree, and
also the same as would have been released had
the tree fallen and rotted on the forest floor.
When burned in a Skanden system at approximately
2000 degrees and filtered with multi-cyclones,
particulate emissions are ultra-low.
All biomass fuel that we recommend is renewable.
Wood pellets are produce from wood sourced from
sustainable yeild forests and mill waste. Pellet
mills typically run on electricity produced by
biomass power plants, rather than coal. Thus,
unlike ethanol and other biofuels, pellets are
truly "green energy" both in their production
and their combustion.
The use of pellet fuel helps prevent forest
fires. Pellets are produced from "off-spec" wood
(tops and branches that are otherwise left to
rot on the forest floor), the most easily
ignitable portion of trees. Pellet production
minimizes forest fire risks and enjoys the
support of the U.S. Forest Service.
Local production minimizes the environmental
impact of transportation.
With biomass, there is no risk of accidental
contamination (such as from an oil spill/leak).
Our national security is threatened by our
dependence on foreign oil. Switching to locally
produced fuel strengthens America.
Wood pellet heating systems produced in
Scandinavia are used by thousands of schools and
other facilities throughout Europe, They are
extremely easy to maintain and trouble-free.
They require minimum maintenance, such as
refilling the storage silo with pellets,
emptying the ash bucket (ideally in a garden
where it is beneficial for plants), and sweeping
the chimney. The systems carry a 24 month
warranty. Repairs for ordinary wear and tear are
generally easy and infrequent.
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