Wood Biomass Basics Woody biomass: Thermal and combined heat and power (CHP) technology, applications & opportunities. Rick DeMark, Coordinator North Country Resource Conservation & Development Area Council, New Hampshire

What is biomass? What is biomass? Biomass is any biological material that can be used as a fuel to produce heat, electricity, or both heat and power. Biomass is any biological material that can be used as a fuel to produce heat, electricity, or both heat and power. Woody biomass comes from forest harvesting or specificlly grown woody crops. Woody biomass comes from forest harvesting or specificlly grown woody crops. Other common biomass fuels come from agricultural crops or their residues and farm animal wastes. Other common biomass fuels come from agricultural crops or their residues and farm animal wastes.

Forest Residues Forest Residues

Whole Tree or Bole Chips

Manufactured Wood Pellets

Why Use Biomass? Why Use Biomass? Biomass fuel is a local product, grown and harvested on local forests and farms. Dollars spent on biomass stay in the local economy, create jobs and help sustain our land base. Removal of low grade forest residues can improve overall forest health and value. Biomass fuel is a local product, grown and harvested on local forests and farms. Dollars spent on biomass stay in the local economy, create jobs and help sustain our land base. Removal of low grade forest residues can improve overall forest health and value. Biomass is easy to use and has a high energy content and is clean burning. Biomass is easy to use and has a high energy content and is clean burning.

Why Use Biomass? (cont) Why Use Biomass? (cont) Prices are generally lower and more stable. Costs have increased only 1 % per year over the past 20 years and are historically lower than non renewable fossil fuels Prices are generally lower and more stable. Costs have increased only 1 % per year over the past 20 years and are historically lower than non renewable fossil fuels Good for the environment when burned with appropriate pollution controls and when harvested sustainably. Replacing fossil fuels with biomass reduces greenhouse gases Good for the environment when burned with appropriate pollution controls and when harvested sustainably. Replacing fossil fuels with biomass reduces greenhouse gases

Why Use Biomass? (cont) Why Use Biomass? (cont) 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: $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 Applications This boiler produces 6.74 MMBtus/hour using around 636 tons of wood chips annually and heats 230,000 sq. ft. at the Merrimack Valley 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 School Merrimack Valley High and Middle School

Bulk delivery of pellets at NH Audubon Center

These wood pellet boilers heat the 30,000 sq foot These wood pellet boilers heat the 30,000 sq foot town garage in Lyme, NH town 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 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 and estimate $1 million/year over time. 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) will be able to heat 600,000 sq ft. Saved $250,000 in their first year and estimate $1 million/year over time.

Sources of additional information North Country Resource Conservation & Development Northeast District Energy Corporationwww.energy.rochester.edu/ndec/ Biomass Energy Resource Centerwww.biomasscenter.org Fuels for Schoolswww.fuelsforschools.org New England Wood Pelletswww.pelletheat.com Crotched Mountain Woodchip Plant International District Energy Associationwww.districtenergy.org Danish Board of District Heatingwww.dbdh.dk/ Biomass Thermal Energy Council US Forest Service National Association of State Energy Officials Biomass Thermal Energy Council

Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy A Step-by Step Decision-Making Tool for New 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