We live in a world where energy consumption is on the rise. With more and more of our lives relying on electricity and other forms of power, having reliable sources of fuel that are clean and efficient is becoming increasingly important. One such source is pellets – an affordable, versatile, and renewable energy source that can provide a long-term solution to our energy needs. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what pellets are, the benefits they offer, and how they might be used for domestic heating or commercial purposes.
What Are Pellets?
Pellets, also known as wood pellets or biomass pellets, are small cylindrical pieces of compressed combustible materials such as sawdust, wood chips, agricultural residues, or food waste. They are produced from industrial processes like chipping or grinding raw materials into smaller particles which are then compacted under high pressure to form a pellet shapes with a diameter ranging from 4-25mm. The most common type of pellet used today is made from recycled sawdust and wood shavings left over from furniture manufacturing companies or other woodworking industries.
Why Use Pellets For Fuel?
Pellets have many advantages when it comes to using them as fuel sources: they’re clean burning; energy efficient; renewable; cost-effective; easy to store; convenient to transport; and emit little smoke or dust when burned. This makes them ideal for both domestic heating systems and larger-scale commercial applications such as power plants. On top of all this, their high calorific value means that they produce more heat per unit weight than any other commonly available solid fuels such as coal or gas – making them an increasingly attractive option for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint while still being able to enjoy the same amount of warmth in their homes.
Types Of Pellet Fuels
There are two main types of pellet fuels available on the market today – hardwood/softwood blends (also known as a premium grade) which tend to burn longer with less ash residue than standard softwood pellets but can be slightly more expensive depending on availability; and 100% softwood pellets which burn faster but may produce a bit more ash left behind after combustion due to their lower density compared to hardwoods/blends variants. Both types come in various sizes depending on the intended use – for example, standard six-millimetre diameter pellets are often used by homeowners for heating appliances like stoves whereas large fifteen-millimetre diameter ones may be utilized by businesses wanting bulk amounts suitable for large-scale operations like power plants.
How Much Do Pellets Cost?
The price of pellets depends largely on supply and demand factors – if there’s plenty around then prices will usually be lower than when supplies run low during peak seasonal periods like wintertime (when demand tends to increase). Generally speaking, though you should expect prices per tonne (excluding VAT) between £150-£250 here in the UK depending on your region/supplier – so it pays off doing some research beforehand before committing! Additionally, if you plan on buying your own pellet stove then installation costs must also be taken into account alongside regular maintenance bills associated with keeping one running efficiently over time – although these shouldn’t set you back too much once initial outlays have been factored in too!
What can pellets be used for?
Pellets can be used for many different things, including domestic heating systems (via pellet stoves), commercial buildings (via boilers), industrial processes (in thermal power stations), animal bedding (such as horse stalls), compost mixes etc.
They are also becoming increasingly popular in developing countries due to the lack of accessibility associated with traditional fossil fuels such as oil & gas, so could prove useful in bridging this gap in the years to come!
Where can you buy pellets?
In terms of purchasing your own supply of pellets, there’s plenty out there depending on where you live, with many suppliers selling both online via websites such as Amazon or eBay, as well as physical stores located across the country selling direct goods at competitive prices – just make sure whichever outlet you choose has good customer feedback ratings before you commit! Alternatively, if all else fails then it’s always possible to ask local hardware stores if they stock any at reasonable prices too – again, it never hurts to check reviews first just in case any dodgy deals are lurking around the corner waiting for unsuspecting customers.
Is it worth investing in a pellet stove?
If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly way to heat your home without breaking the bank, then investing in one of these nifty appliances could well be worth considering! Not only do they contain no open flame making them safer than traditional fireplaces plus require minimal upkeep once installed correctly because average efficiency ratings range between 70%-90% means savings potentially made annual bills significant levels over time provided use is responsible & regular enough i.e. refilling the hopper every few days rather than weeks etc. Plus given the fact, modern designs nowadays come complete with lots of features including advanced thermostats plus optional timers to control room temperature overnight even if no one at home sees why so many people nowadays opt to install one of these state-of-the-art machines instead of old school methods previously employed by generations gone by.
Conclusion – Why choose pellets?
All things considered, choosing to switch conventional fuel sources towards something cleaner and greener definitely seems a wise decision not just financially speaking but environmentally friendly terms to seeing how much damage is being done to the planet on a day-to-day basis thanks to the use of non-renewable resources options becoming ever more limited each passing year.
That said, whilst admittedly the upfront cost of purchasing, and installing a pellet burner/boiler system may seem a little pricey, the overall returns in the long term promise to outweigh the initial investment several times over, especially for those who live in cold climates and require a constant source of heat throughout the winter months.
So ultimately, whether you’re looking to replace an existing method, heat your property, upgrade your current infrastructure or install a completely new system, rest assured that you’re doing your bit, helping to protect the environment and ticking the budget box all at the same time, it makes perfect sense to go down this route as soon as possible, but don’t forget to double check everything thoroughly before taking the plunge.
