What are wood pellets? What are the benefits? Are they renewable? How are they delivered?

What are wood pellets?

Wood pellets are a realistic renewable fuel solution, affordable now and sustainable into the future.

In a world of dwindling resources and volatile fuel costs, many of us are considering alternative ways of heating our homes, offices or workplaces. Here at Duffield Wood Pellets, with support from Yorkshire Forward, Defra and the European Union, we have made major investment in a plant to produce fuel from sawmill residues such as sawdust, shavings and wood chips.

Our wood pellets are characterised by low moisture content, high calorific value and minimal ash residue after combustion. They conform with current EN standards and are available for purchase loose in bulk or conveniently bagged.

Burned correctly wood pellets produce very little emissions. They are best consumed in equipment which is specifically designed to burn them, this could be an efficient and attractive room heater or a central heating boiler. However, wood pellets can be used in an open fire grate or wood burning stove provided that a suitable pellet basket is used.

For medium to large scale projects requiring heat and water, a wide range of highly efficient pellet burning appliances are available on the market, which may be automatically fed from a store, self ignite and programme like a conventional fuel boiler.

Duffield Wood Pellets offer: -

  • A reliable, long-term renewable and carbon neutral fuel
  • Competitive pricing against other fuels
  • An efficient, clean burning fuel with virtually no emissions or ash
  • Independence of dwindling fossil fuel resources
  • The ability to utilise highly efficient, fully automated, boilers readily available in the UK
  • Convenient delivery, storage and handling
  • Delivery in bulk direct to your fuel store or available in handy bags for purchase in smaller quantities
  • A locally manufactured, cost effective, fuel providing heat for consumers in the same geographical region, endorsing the UK Goverment's Low Carbon Transport Innovation Strategy

    For further information contact: -

    Duffield Wood Pellets, Green Lane, Melmerby, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 5JB

    Telephone: 01765 640564 email: info@duffieldwoodpellets.com

    • image: wood pellet boiler

    How are they made?

    Wood pellets are made by passing sawdust, shavings and pre-screened wood chips through a series of hammer mills to obtain an optimum feed size.

    The pulverized material passes into a conditioning unit where the particles are pre-heated and mixed to achieve a uniform mass, this is fed to a press and squeezed through holes in a die. As the material leaves the die it is cut by a fixed blade creating pellets of the required length.

    The high pressure involved in the process creates sufficient heat to plastify the lignin content of the wood, which serves to bind the pellets as they cool.

    How are they used?

    Wood pellets are best used in equipment specifically designed to burn them This could be an efficient and attractive room heater or a central heating boiler.

    For medium to large scale projects requiring heat and water, a wide range of highly efficient pellet burning appliances are available, which may be automatically fed from a store, self ignite and be programmed like a conventional fossil fuel boiler.

    Wood pellets can be used in an open fire grate or wood burning stove when fitted with a suitable pellet basket