PELLETime will develop an accessible package of tools to design sustainable pellet supply chains, thereby promoting the role of local entrepreneurs in utilising local renewable energy resources and supporting the energy self-sufficiency of northern peripheral regions. The small scale production of pellets currently faces both technological limitati... More...

PELLETime will develop an accessible package of tools to design sustainable pellet supply chains, thereby promoting the role of local entrepreneurs in utilising local renewable energy resources and supporting the energy self-sufficiency of northern peripheral regions. The small scale production of pellets currently faces both technological limitations, as well as lack of knowledge.

The project addresses those challenges by offering a holistic approach for SMEs reaching from identification and estimation of available resources, raw material procurement, the design of the entire pellet production process to the final product. PELLETime will encourage sustainable expansion of the raw material resource, and carry out widespread awareness raising and information dissemination to facilitate market development.

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The overall objective of the project is to produce a package of tools to facilitate establishment of enterprises in pellet production, support existing pellet production, and, enhance renewable energy availability throughout the northern periphery region. More...

The overall objective of the project is to produce a package of tools to facilitate establishment of enterprises in pellet production, support existing pellet production, and, enhance renewable energy availability throughout the northern periphery region.

 

 

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The SME tool package will comprise: Pellet market reports and contact network Inventories of regionally available resources Best practice guideline on landscape, hydrology and biodiversity impacts of short rotational raw materials Cost calculator on handling and logistics of raw materials and pellets Best practice guideline on logistics and... More...

The SME tool package will comprise:

• Pellet market reports and contact network
• Inventories of regionally available resources
• Best practice guideline on landscape, hydrology and biodiversity impacts of short rotational raw materials 
• Cost calculator on handling and logistics of raw materials and pellets
• Best practice guideline on logistics and quality assurance (in terms of fuel supply)
• Best practice guideline on fuel quality and technology, and
• Internet based user's guide

Project activities, as well as the tool package, will result in business development in pellet energy sector and new end-users of pellets.

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The project has been effective in its main processes, i.e. market analyses, growth trials of alternative raw materials, drying and storage trials of raw materials, pelletizing trials, combustion and emission analyses, and end-user advisory and dissemination. So far a new forest energy enterprise, Skogarorka ehf. has been established in Hallormssta... More...

The project has been effective in its main processes, i.e. market analyses, growth trials of alternative raw materials, drying and storage trials of raw materials, pelletizing trials, combustion and emission analyses, and end-user advisory and dissemination.

So far a new forest energy enterprise, Skogarorka ehf. has been established in Hallormsstadur, East Iceland. It was initiated during the NPP project Northern WoodHeat. The enterprise has launched new 500 kW heating scheme based on local woodfuels and subsitituting electricity and fuel oil. 

PELLETime growth trials in Shetland and Orkney include willow crop trials and growth trials of reed canary grass, a forage grass mix and barley (as a source of straw). Trials have resulted to new knowledge on the aspects of establishment, crop yeilds, biodiversity, hydrology and landscape impacts.

The project has produced detailed fuel characteristics for several new pellet qualities produced of alternative raw materials, and contributed much on scientific knowledge. Currently 12 alternative raw material sets are tested or in processes of pelletizing trials and combustion /emission analyses.

Associate partners have contributed to the technical development work, for instance, by designing a new type of harvesting machinery that has been further applied in PELLETime trials.

North Karelia University of Applied Sciences (NKUAS) has established small-scale pelletizing unit to the Centre for Natural Resources, Joensuu. Pelletizing service of alternative raw materials will be available in late 2010.

So far open project events have had approximately 220 participants, number of advised end-users of pellets and entrepreneurs in pellet sector is approximately 35, and 11 companies have are cooperating with PELLETime.

Information on project development is available via project websites and study reports available at the project's publications.

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