Wood Chip Heating for Commercial Hot Water Supply
Mature Technology
Wood fired hot water via a high efficiency gasification furnace is recognized as a very cost effective and environmentally friendly heat source for commercial and institutional buildings. Gasification furnaces run in the 92-95% efficiency range and produce mostly water vapour as an exhaust. Currently the price for heating chips is 4-5 times CHEAPER than heating with furnace oil.
CBC news on PEI biomass heating initiative (November 5th 2019) – Wood4heat.ca
https://wood4heat.ca/assets/PEI_Biomass_Heating_Initiative.b9123322.mp4
Paul Frank, the senior healthcare architect for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital expansion project (2021) was directly involved with wood chip heat for many CBRM health buildings.
The Lahey Report – “An Independent Review of Forest Practices in Nova Scotia” recognizes that wood energy from forest thinnings as an important component in sustainable forestry.
Established Supply Chain in Western NS
In 2009, Spec Resources Inc. of Concession Digby Co., was contracted by Universite’ Sainte-Anne (U.S.A.) to build a facility and providing a wood biomass boiler for hot water heating. The boiler is designed to offset the oil-fired boilers that were currently in use at the campus. Spec resources has been providing local sustainable wood biomass for the boilers at U.S.A for more than 10 years.
Spe resources also provides wood chips to COGS in Lawrencetown, Driftwood Greenhouses in Gulliver’s Cove, and the new Villa Acadienne in Meteghan.
https://specenviro.ca/services/wood/
North Range Forest Products (NRFP) of Digby County has over 30 years of experience doing thinnings in local forests. NRFP directly manages woodland and provides thinning services for members of the Western Woodlot Services Co-op. On a first thinning of a woodlot there will be 50%+ of the wood removed that is not desirable for lumber or firewood. This wood is ideally suited for wood heating. A market for this low-grade wood through wood chip heating vastly improves the economics of forest thinnings.
The Way Forward
The Western Woods Service Co-op wishes to bring together stakeholders, and proponents to chart the route to the installation of wood chip heating systems for local schools, hospitals, and industries with significant heat requirements.
Together we can support sustainable forestry, save on energy costs, and increase local jobs and the economy.
Western Woodlot Services Co-op
Representing Kings, Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, and Queens counties
https://www.westernwoodlotcoop.com/
Digby Office
3594 Second Division Road, Concession, NS
B0W 1M0
902.769.3112
info@westernwoodlotcoop.com
SATELLITE OFFICES
New Germany Office
5255 Highway 10, New Germany, NS
B0R 1E0
902-523-2141
info@westernwoodlotcoop.com
Kingston Office
510 Main St. Kingston, NS
B0P 1R0
902-670-4464
info@westernwoodlotcoop.com