The importance of standardization and certification for small scale pellet producers

Transcription

1 The importance of standardization and certification for small scale pellet producers Andreas Schneider PUSCH AG, Marienrachdorf, Germany Annett Pollex, Martin Hoeft, Jan Khalsa DBFZ, Leipzig, Germany Central European Biomass Conference Graz, Austria

2 Outline PUSCH AG Development of the pellet price The consequences Any biomass is suitable What is the catch? Improvement Market situation Standardization and certification systems Comparison small scale vs. large scale producers Conclusions 2

3 PUSCH AG Location: Marienrachdorf, Germany Products: Pelletizing Machines Canopies, Railing Systems Grave Systems 3

4 Development of the pellet price Pellets, 06/2013 Solar Promotion, DEPI European pellet demand: 4

5 Development of the pellets price - and the consequences Raw material costs represent the largest proportion! Other (additional) biomass sources are necessary Requirement: primarily the price DBFZ,

6 Any biomass is suitable for pelletizing Classification of biomass EN

7 So what is the catch? Significantly different properties ash content is usually higher Ash melting temperatures are generally lower Higher concentrations of nitrogen, sulfur, potassium and chlorine Emissions, corrosion Unknown risks like off-gassing and self heating 7

8 Improvement Pellets, 05/2010 Pellets, 06/2011 Causes of operational disturbances in pellet boilers Continuous improvement of fuel quality is necessary Constant and standardized pelletquality is an important factor for a trouble-free and convenient heat supply! Pellets, 06/2013 8

9 Market situation Amount of pellet producers according to size class Report, Safepellets, 2013 Austria: Most producer are certified according to the current standards 88% to ENplus, 60% to the German DINplus and 95% to the Austrian standard Önorm Denmark: Half of the Danish production is certified material for premium pellets, 25% according to the ENplus standard another 25% according to the German standard DINplus Germany: Most of the producers are certified. 95% according to former national standard DINplus and 80% use Enplus Sweden: More than half of the production is used as industry pellets. The rest is declared as premium pellets. Pellet producers don t use a certification system comparable to the EN standard. No producer is certified according to ENplus or DINplus. 9

10 Standardization and certification systems For wood pellets: European standard EN lists the requirements for wood pellet quality and ENplus certification enforces quality standards ENplus certification will cost the producer about 2000 for auditing and pellet analysis and 400 for the actual certification. After that license costs of 6-15 cents / t for use of the trademark will apply (AEBIOM 2011) For pellets from non-woody biomass: EN is the respective quality standard and a ENagro certification has been proposed as part of the mixbiopells project to certify pellets from the following feedstocks Cereal straw pellets Miscanthus pellets Reed canary grass pellets Mixed pellets class A Mixed pellets class B (Report on labeling concept, mixbiopells, 2012) 10

11 Comparison small scale vs. large scale producers Small scale Wood pellets + more dependent on local market Non-wood pellets Standardization Cost of certification + locally available biomasses, small market ++ quality assurance, costumer satisfaction - potentially to high for small businesses Large scale ++ strong market in Europe - market is to small, biomass has to be transported far ++ quality assurance, costumer satisfaction o easy to compensate (++ = very positive, + = positive, o = neutral, - = negative) 11

12 Conclusions Pellet demand is growing continuously Standardization and certification systems are effective Also due to wide range of raw materials quality standards are necessary Consumers expect absolutely quality and safety Producer: hedging against compensation claims Long term view: costs for certification are well laid out and secure market success 12

13 Many thanks for your attention! 13

14 Contact PUSCH AG Auf der Weid Marienrachdorf Tel.: +49 (0) 2626/ Fax: +49 (0) 2626/ Mail Safety and quality assurance measures along the biomass pellets supply chain 14