Q: What is the difference between clean fuels and dirty fuels?

A: Clean fuels are good for the environment. Dirty fuels have a negative impact on the environment, such as fossil fuels.

Need more info here....

Q: Why should I consider it for the future?

A:    As a readily-available source of renewable energy, wood fuel is a robust solution for organisations seeking a reliable, continuous and price-stable energy supply.

Heat accounts for about 30% of New Zealand’s energy use. However, 70% of heat used by our businesses comes from fossil fuels.  Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources – such as wood residues or geothermal steam – to generate heat can reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions.
•    Wood energy is renewable and carbon neutral.  Carbon is absorbed by growing trees and released when the wood is burned or when it rots. So using wood energy neither increases nor decreases the amount of carbon cycling in the atmosphere - unlike digging up old, sequestered carbon in the form of oil and gas and releasing it.
•    Switching from fossil fuels like coal to renewable sources like wood reduces carbon emissions and helps New Zealand business meet their greenhouse gas reduction obligations
•    Stimulating a new market in renewable resources can contribute to regional development – creating jobs and improving productivity.
•    At the national level, a 2013 report indicated that an integrated woody biomass value chain encompassing heat could add $2.1 billion to New Zealand’s GDP, create 10,000 jobs, and deliver a return on investment of 21%.
•      A greater diversity of energy sources also helps mitigate the carbon intensity of carbon-exposed export industries such as dairy and meat processing – which can bolster the performance and reputation of these sectors in key overseas markets.

Many coal users are increasingly concerned with increasing variability in the delivered fuel – meaning costly re-tuning of the boiler with each new fuel grade. This has become worse with recent coal mine closures in the South Island. The high degree of automation and control on a modern wood boiler, coupled with its much lower ash means much lower operator costs. 

Q: How can wood energy be considered clean?

A: Wood energy is renewable and carbon neutral.  Carbon is absorbed by growing trees and released when the wood is burned or when it rots. So using wood energy neither increases nor decreases the amount of carbon cycling in the atmosphere - unlike digging up old, sequestered carbon in the form of oil and gas and releasing it.

Wood energy is cleaner than coal because it generates fewer particulate emissions (PM10, PM2.5, ‘smog’), sulphur dioxide and toxic heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury are all by-products of coal combustion).Therefore the greater uptake of wood to replace coal in Southland, the cleaner the air in Southland.

This project aims to deliver more than 8,000 tonnes of CO2 savings per annum, a total of almost 200,000 tonnes over the lifetime of measures.

Q: Is it sustainable?

A: Wood energy is renewable and carbon neutral.  Carbon is absorbed by growing trees and released when the wood is burned or when it rots. So using wood energy neither increases nor decreases the amount of carbon cycling in the atmosphere - unlike digging up old, sequestered carbon in the form of oil and gas and releasing it. 

This project aims to deliver more than 8,000 tonnes of CO2 savings per annum, a total of almost 200,000 tonnes over the lifetime of measures.

Q: What is the difference between wood chips, wood pellets and woody biomass?

A: Wood chips: Woodchips are a medium-sized solid material made by cutting, or chipping, larger pieces of wood.

Wood pellets: The pellets are made from 100% wood residues (sawdust and wood shavings). The controlled density and moisture level of wood pellets means that they burn with more consistency and lower emissions than logs.

Woody biomass: A term used to describe material from any woody or dry-matter plant either standing, lying on the ground, or in the soil. This includes wood lying on the surface, dead roots, and stumps (usually defined as having a diameter of at least 10 cm). Woody biomass comes in various forms, which are all sourced from forest residues and residues from wood processing sites. 

Q: Where will it come from?

A: Southland has a significant forestry and wood processing industry, which generates an estimated 300,000 tonnes of wood waste a year that can be used for energy. 

The project aims to create annual demand for 16,000 green tonnes of wood [0.15 Petajoules gross calculated at ‘fresh off the stump’ weight of 50-55% moisture content, as per EDF.  Green, or freshly felled wood, is wetter and therefore heavier than wood that has dried post-harvest]. 

Q: It is a virgin timber or a by-product?

A: Wood chips and pellets ultilise waste wood or by-products.

Q: Does it have good supply chains now and into the future?

A: Southland has a significant forestry and wood processing industry, which generates an estimated 300,000 tonnes of wood waste a year that can be used for energy.  See map of resources

Cathy - the map you were talking about

Q: Can we be sure the regulations won’t change again and outlaw it?

A: ???

Q: What does it cost to convert?

A: ???

The initial cost can more more expensive than traditional fuels, but over the life of the boiler, it becomes more cost effective.  To understand the full costs involved click here  to apply for a feasibility study (or contact blah blah)

I can’t write that answer.  Can we give anything concrete at all, can we give any comparative costs?

If you ignore the question – people are just going to ask it, or do you want me to just out down – contact Lloyd for more details?

Q: How does it compete cost wise with other fuels sources?

A: While Southland has historically had cheap coal and lignite, in many cases wood can deliver the same or cheaper cost of energy. 

Q: Can I convert my current dirty fuel plant over?

A: In many cases the answer is yes!– Will get content from Lloyd

Llyod

Q: How easy is it to convert?

A: ???

Q: What is the prices?

A: ???

Q: How easy are the boilers to use and maintain?

A: ???

Q: Why is Southland promoting it?

A:    Because it is good for Southland's environment and the economy, which can only be good for the community.  Plus it is a cost effective solution for commercial premises given they will be more than likely obligated to make changes because of the air regulation changes coming into effective in 2016

Q: Are there funding sources to assist with conversion?

A: Yes there is funding available to assist with feasibility studies and  Capital funds available to assist in meeting business case thresholds. These applications will only be considered when a business case has been presented. More Information

Q: Who supplies boilers?

A: See a full list here

Q: Who supplies wood fuel?

A: Local sawmills and fuel suppliers. See a full list here

Q: What is the first steps?

A: The first step to implementing a wood fuel system in your organisation is to complete a feasibility assessment. This will outline whether the project is economically viable; as well as giving projections on emission reductions, and options in fuel supply. This assessment can be done inhouse, or outsourced to a specialist firm.

Contact a consultant to undertake a feasibility study- click here to see a full list of engineer consultants in an area near you.

The EECA through Venture Southland assists with funding these studies click here for more information

Factors to be assessed include:

• Current heat plant – What is the age, type and rated output of the existing heat plant?
• Existing boiler upgrade – Can your existing boiler be adapted for wood fuels? What are the relative costs for upgrading to pellets or chips?
• Energy cost – What is the current energy expenditure and projected energy costs, including wood?
• Relative economics of installing a wood fuel system – What is the capital and running cost of a wood-based system relative to other options?
• Fuel supply – Is your organisation located in a region where there is a readily-available supply of wood fuel? Can the suppliers provide a fuel suitable for the boiler (refer to the Wood Fuel Classification Guidelines on www.eecabusiness.govt.nz and www.bioenergy.org.nz)?
• CO2 emissions – What are current emission levels?
• Air shed issues – Does your existing energy system contribute to local air shed pollution?
• Resource consent obligations – What are the resource consent considerations for your current and any future systems?
• Fuel storage – Is your site adequate for wood fuel storage, or can it be upgraded?

After considering the feasibility of a wood-fuelled system, relevant staff or contractors will need to be employed to design, build and implement the system. Your supply of woodfuel will also need to be secured and contracts negotiated.

Q: Is there a Southland expert I can get advice from?

A: Independent technical advisory services are available to Southland heat plant owners and Industry stakeholders. Services include:

• Site visits to assess the suitability of wood fuels for your business
• Non-partisan advice on boiler and fuel options
• Assistance with funding applications - resources.

Contact Lloyd McGinty for more information regarding these services.

Q: Is there anyone else using this and what do they think?

A:Yes, there are currently several wood energy users utilizing wood chip, pellet and residue and both purpose built and converted heat plants.

Early adopters are raving about the switch. Benefits include, reduced operational time, health benefits for staff, reduced ash

Please see our case studies here

Q: What effect will wood energy have on the Southland community?

A: It will be better for Southland's environment

It will be good for the economy

And it will be good for (flowchart) Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam.

Q: The use of wood energy will be of benefit for the community how?

A: The use of wood energy will benefit the Southland community by ultilising local waste wood, creating jobs and reducing the emissions creating a cleaner environment. 

Q: What are the barriers to switching to wood fuelled heat plants in Southland; how can we overcome them?

A:  1. Higher cost - Generating heat from renewable resources has a higher initial capital cost than for other fuels, despite lower operating costs in most cases. It is important to look at life cycle costs and maintenance time.

See have for more info

2. Possibility of changing air regulations, with a negative effect on the use of wood energy?????

3. Lack of awareness and understanding regarding the benefits of wood energy (and a reliance on coal and lignite) by commercial users, business and the environment in Southland.  See here for more information on these benefits.

4. Reliability of supply – Southland currently has two wood chip suppliers and potential for this to develop

5. Storage – the right system for your operation

Q: How much energy can I get from wood?

A: Wood can be converted into a number of different fuel and energy forms. The values in the table below provide broad estimates of the energy which could be created.

One cubic metre of solid Pinus radiata wood at 50% m.c (wet basis) could create:

Heat 6.6 GJ @ 80% eff

Electricity 1.64GJ or 455kWh @ 20% eff

Heat & Electricity via CHP1

5.7 GJ heat (60% eff) and 228 kWh electricity (10% eff)

Biodiesel (31 MJ/l) 100 (90 to 106) litres*

Ethanol (24 MJ/l)  148 (140 to 152) litres*

Bio-oil (21 MJ/l) 300 (270 to 330) litres*

Wood gas (5MJ/m³) 1130m³ (requires drying to 15% m.c. wet basis)

*assumes 1 cubic metre contains 0.440 oven-dry tonnes of wood

In comparison diesel has a calorific value of 39 MJ/l and natural gas is 36MJ/m3.