Pelletizing is the solution

Pelletizing has a lot of advantages:
the energy value is higher per volume unit, which reduces the transport cost;  it is possible to design a better fuel with more homogeneous qualities; and the cost for pelletizing can be covered by admixing cheaper raw material.  Rapeseed cake, for example, can increase the ignitability and thereby the potential to use the fuel in traditional burners and boilers which are designed for wood pellets.

Unfortunately, the admixture of sodium bicarbonate also reduces the sintering temperature of the ashes and causes combustiontechnical problems instead. In addition to sodium bicarbonate we have also evaluated the additional unslaked lime to reduce the sintering problems and are very satisfied with the results to date. Additives can almost eliminate the production of corrosive gases and we are now looking for other good and cheap raw materials for pelletizing..

We now know how to create grainpellets which are easy to light and burn so that the pellet can also be used in traditional wood pellet burners. There is still a lot of work to do, both in the form of basic academic research and more traditional product development of combustion equipment, as well as the raw material mix. Our results are very hopeful and the product ”grainpellet” is so interesting that we are pleased to recommend research teams and boiler manufacturer to consider this new fuel. We believe that full scale production will occur in the near future.

The arguments for ”grain pellets” are many. Firstly, the open agricultural landscape we are used to see could be utilized for a locally produced biofuel to replace fossil fuels and reduce production of greenhouse gases. Secondly, we can take advantage of existing investments both within farm companies and within the fodder pellet industry, and turn a surplus into a profitable, and tradable, fuel in a new and tremendous market. This fuel can create many jobs – and also create new opportunities, especially in rural areas.