What is a Pellet?

What is a Pellet?

A pellet is a processed fuel made by compressing wood waste such as sawdust and wood shavings produced during wood processing. It has very low moisture content and produces minimal ash residue. Pellets, according to standards, are about 6 mm or 8 mm in diameter and 20–30 mm in length, and are considered a high-calorific fuel.

How to Identify Quality Pellets?

In European Union countries, quality pellets can be identified by the ENplus certification, as well as the A1 marking, which indicates premium quality intended for residential use.

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Pellet Packaging and Delivery

Pellets are available in packaging from 15 kg up to 1.0 tonne. In European countries, they are often delivered by tanker truck, which blows the pellets directly into a storage silo at the customer’s premises.

In the Picture: Comfortable Heating System with a Pellet Boiler

Pellets are delivered and blown directly into the storage silo via a tanker hose.

Transferred to the boiler through a spiral conveyor.

Automatic pellet boiler.

Buffer tank for heating and domestic hot water preparation.

Automatic Pellet Boiler

An automatic pellet boiler is a modern alternative for central heating in single-family homes. Compared to manually loaded boilers, it is much easier to operate. A large storage silo needs to be refilled only every few days or once a week.

Pellets are automatically fed from the indoor or outdoor storage into the combustion chamber via a spiral auger. A built-in fan supplies combustion air, supporting the combustion process, maintaining stable boiler output, ensuring high combustion efficiency, and keeping emissions low. An exhaust fan removes ash without creating smoke and prevents smoldering, while an overheat protection coil safeguards the system.

For user convenience, a control unit allows operation according to a pre-set program, enabling interaction with the system. Specifically, the boiler can be controlled remotely via a thermostat inside the house.

Suitability and Performance

Suitable for all types of single-family homes. For a typical house, a 15–25 kW boiler is usually installed. Pellet boilers have an efficiency of about 90%, meaning they produce more heat from less fuel. Compared to a similar coal boiler with 60% efficiency, pellet consumption is reduced by around 30%.

Emission Class

When selecting an automatic boiler, it is important to consider its emission class. According to regulations, Class 1 is the lowest and Class 5 is the highest. The sale of Class 1–3 boilers is prohibited, and most pellet boilers are manufactured to meet Class 5 standards.

An automatically and electrically igniting cast-iron boiler comes with a lifetime warranty. Its operation can be “smart-controlled” via the internet and a mobile phone.

What Should an Investor Consider Before Purchase?

Decide whether the pellet boiler will serve as the primary or supplementary heating solution for the single-family home.

Assess the available space and determine requirements for the storage silo and fuel hopper. Keep in mind that the volume of the hopper directly affects the fuel refill interval.

When purchasing a boiler, consider also planning for a domestic hot water (DHW) storage tank. This will not only ensure comfortable heating conditions but also help reduce fuel consumption.

Evaluate the possibility of regular supply from a location with a developed wood-processing industry and abundant pellet resources, and take into account the related logistics costs.

In the context of your country’s conditions, carefully research what other biomass or eco-fuels could potentially replace pellets in the future.