Why a Wood Heating System?

Part of the New Hampshire Wood Biomass Heating Project

Hanover High School, Hanover, NH March 25, 2008 Merrimack Valley High School, Penacook, NH March 27, 2008

Kamalesh Doshi, Program Director Biomass Energy Resource Center

Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC)

BERC is a national not-for-profit organization working to promote responsible use of biomass for energy. BERCs mission is to achieve a healthier environment, strengthen local economies, and increase energy security across the United States by developing sustainable biomass systems at the community level.

Biomass Feedstocks

Forest Residues Timber harvesting Forest thinning Wood processing

Agricultural Residues Farms (corn stover) Agricultural processing (sugarcane bagasse)

Energy Crops Hybrid poplar Switch grass Willow

Other Biomass Feedstocks (urban waste, animal manure, waste vegetable oils, etc.)

Biomass: only renewable resource that causes problems when NOT used!

Biomass: A Cost-Effective Fuel

Heating with biomass is less expensive than heating with fossil fuels.

Modern Biomass Heating Systems

Increased efficiency Lower emissions Lower time requirements Reliable operation Automated fuel handling Hot water boiler and heat distribution

Technology Options for Biomass Heating Systems

BIOMASS FEEDSTOCKS
Woodchips
(hardwood, softwood, bole, whole-tree chips)

FEEDSTOCK STORAGE
Below-grade bin Above-grade (on slab storage)

FEEDSTOCK HANDLING
Fully automated Semi automated

HEAT DISTRIBUTION
Hot water Steam Hot air

Pellets
(Grass, sawdust, agricultural residues)

Silo (inside, under a roof, or outside)

Cordwood Agricultural crops

(corn)

WOOD FUEL COMPARISON:

Best Applications for Woodchips

Larger facilities Where fuel cost savings are very important Larger schools (more than 40,000 sq. ft.) Where there is room for: new boiler room, fuel storage bin, tractor-trailer access In/near forested areas with an active forest

products industry

Wood Pellets

Characteristics
Uniform shape and size Dry (4-6% moisture) Energy dense (7,750 Btu/lb, 6% moisture)

Pricing
Per ton Plus delivery charge

Availability
Bulk suppliers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

WOOD FUEL COMPARISON:

Best Applications for Wood Pellets

Residential use (stoves & central heat) Small commercial facilities

Small schools (under 40,000 sq. ft.)

Locations with limited space Sites not far from a pellet plant

School Wood Heating

Lyndon Elementary School Lyndon, VT

Currently, 20% of all public school students in Vermont attend a wood-heated school

School Case Study

Barre City Elementary Barre, Vermont
Size

158,000 square feet 1,000 students

Heating System

Woodchips (converted from electric heat)

Fuel Use

847 tons in 2006-07

Annual Heating Cost

$39,782 in 2006-07

School Wood Heating

Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg, VT

Educational Facility
Harris Center for Conservation Education Hancock, NH
10,000 SF heated space 9 ton storage silo 10-15 tons of pellets per year 75 minutes staff time per week (during heating season)

Estimated 45% annual fuel cost savings

Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center, Greenfield, NH

District Heating - Campus

Ways to Analyze Cost Effectiveness

All about Amount of savings generated

At what project cost

Methods Simple payback

Cash flow analysis

Life-cycle cost analysis

Life Cycle Cost Analysis

A tool that compares the cost of owning and operating the existing heating system to the cost of purchasing, installing, and operating a new wood pellet heating system. Set assumptions Collect data Define the project and its costs Equipment Construction Professionals fees & permits Annual fuel costs

Steps in Analysis

Determining existing fossil fuel usage and price Determining capacity of biomass boiler

Determining anticipated wood usage and price

Project cost elements Financial parameters

WOOD HEATING PROJECTS

What Not to Do!

Only think about wood supply after its built Hire an engineer whos never done wood before

Oversize the wood boiler, or undersize it

Buy a wood system based on the paint job Let the system vendor be your wood energy expert

Dont bother to talk to the person wholl operate it

Contact Information
Kamalesh Doshi, Program Director Biomass Energy Resource Center
43 State Street Montpelier, VT 05601 802-223-7770 X 126

kdoshi@biomasscenter.org

www.biomasscenter.org