Energy in Mass
With all of the news and information surrounding the need for alternative energy sources—solar, electric, wind, natural gas—few of us are aware of biomass energy sources and the use of wood pellets as a solution to the world’s current energy challenges. Herty Advanced Materials Development Center is at the forefront of developing new technologies in the pursuit of alternative energy solutions. Pellet fuels are made from compressed biomass. Wood pellets, the most common pellet form, are made from wood and bioenergy feed such as miscanthus and switch grass. Pellets are extremely dense, with low moisture content. They can be stored and transported easily and will burn with high combustion efficiency. Pellets can also be easily integrated into existing electric power generating plants, wood burning stoves and other non-commercial applications—making them an excellent fuel source. For this reason, the pellet industry is growing rapidly as major European countries are using biomass pellets at unprecedented rates, due to adoption of mandates for greenhouse gas emissions and other regulations.
According to a recent report from the U.S. International Trade Commission, annual global imports of wood pellets have grown from virtually zero to more than $1.5 billion during the last decade. North American wood pellet exports reached a new record of more than one million tons in the first quarter of 2013, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. There has been a steady growth in shipments from both the U.S. and Canada in the past few years, due largely to the demand in the United Kingdom and other European countries. While this newer form of energy has a bright future ahead, research into improving the production of pellets, as well as optimizing pellet operation and composition, has lagged behind industry growth.
Herty Advanced Materials Development Center has opened the first fully integrated pilot pellet mill in the United States. Developers, manufacturers and researchers will now be able to benefit by having a flexible, integrated production facility that can produce pellets with properties that are consistent with those achieved in large-scale commercial facilities. The new production line, located in Savannah, includes a nearly $2 million investment in process equipment. The facility will provide a much-needed platform for innovation in process technology and pellet designs, and will help satisfy the rising global demand for biomass pellets around the world.
With the introduction of this new mill, Herty will work with technology providers and developers to help validate a number of product development projects. The pellet mill and production facility provides access to both advanced technology and to new product development capabilities and support. The Herty team will support researchers working to enhance pellet design and develop methods for lowering operating costs. Capabilities and services include biomass preparation and pre-treatment, biomass testing and pellet analysis.
“For more than 75 years, Herty has been helping companies in a variety of industries develop and validate new processes and products,” said Alexander Koukoulas, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Georgia Southern’s Herty Advanced Materials Development Center. “This new pilot mill is a first and will help address a global need. The new mill will serve as a valuable testbed by helping our clients confirm product performance and operating efficiencies before they commit to an investment in full-scale manufacturing. Ultimately, the Savannah-based facility will help companies lower technical risk and accelerate delivery.”
WHAT IS BIOMASS ENERGY?
Humans have been harnessing the power of biomass-derived energy since the first time wood was used to make fire. The term “biomass” refers to organic matter that has stored energy through the process of photosynthesis. Many of the biomass fuels used today come in the form of wood products, dried vegetation, crop residues and aquatic plants. Biomass has become one of the most common renewable energy sources over the last two decades, second only to hydro-power in the generation of electricity.