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renewablejohn

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Everything posted by renewablejohn

  1. renewablejohn
    I did not think Balcas produced single species hardwood pellets,
  2. renewablejohn
    Normally not recommended to store more than 3 metres deep but even experts like Jenkinsons have been caught out in the past.
  3. renewablejohn
    Based just outside Bolton Torrefied wood we can produce direct from arb arising once it is torrefied it becomes more friable and easier to pelletise than normal wood pellets with the added advantage that it is hydrophobic. I dont know of any UK manufacturers only Dutch and Canadian
  4. renewablejohn
    There is oil mist used as a die lubricant but it could be vegetable oil rather than mineral oil.
  5. renewablejohn
    Exactly the same people we targeted who were not interested in woodchip as the density of the material made transport and handling difficult. A lot of authorities are replacing their coal boilers for "green" pellet boilers or log boilers hence our production of pellets and briquettes. Long term we will be producing torrefied wood pellets from arb arisings allowing the local authorities to have a green solution whilst retaining their existing coal boilers.
  6. renewablejohn
    If you use ventilation systems to reduce your moisture content you will find that fungal spores are encouraged some of which are deadly to humans. We have found rapid drying of the arb arisings in a solar kiln minimizes the growth of these fungal spores. In respect of mixing arb arisings with recycled wood products this would then restrict the type of appliance able to burn the product to waste incineration directive approved boilers which can be twice as expensive as a virgin timber boiler.
  7. renewablejohn
    email sent
  8. renewablejohn
    Our normal operation is to produce logs with log processor straight into IBC containers. Put into solar kiln until moisture content less than 12% then chip using Hazohack chipper into hammer mill and then through pellet press. If moisture content greater than 12% then pellet die will just block up. Once pellets produced they must be kept dry otherwise they will absorb moisture and expand. Hence reason there used for cat litter and horse bedding. As for hickory I have only come across it when using my axe as a sledge hammer.
  9. renewablejohn
    Quite an easy operation. Start with arb arisings in excess of 50% moisture content dry to less than 25% moisture. Grade chip to G30 or similar spec for biomass boiler. Recycle the fines and reduce moisture content down to between 8-12% then produce wood pellets and briquettes. Simples Did I forget to mention the 150k investment in machinery (And thats cheap using second hand machinery)
  10. renewablejohn
    There is no difficulty in producing wood pellets for a particular species so long as you can get the moisture content down to between 8 and 12%. The only real difference is a separate die for hardwoods and softwoods. Feed stock of a particular variety might be a problem but if you have a source for the timber than I could convert into pellets for £250 per tonne plus the cord price of the timber.
  11. renewablejohn
    Definitely not an EU thing. Austria and the Scandinavian countries have had very efficient biomass CHP plants for over 30 years. You would think that any UK biomass policy would be built on this best practice but instead we try and reinvent the wheel putting short term profit ahead of long term sustainability. If Stevens Croft had been built to best European standards the same amount of timber used could have produced 4 times the usable amount of energy with approx 10% of the pollution.
  12. renewablejohn
    At £250 per tonne you would get 2 tonnes of wood pellets or 2 tonnes of briquettes.
  13. renewablejohn
    Another classic was the biomass CHP plant at Wilton designed to put its waste heat into the steam pipes of the industrial estate at Wilton but if it did that it would not be eligible for the government ROC's so again vented to atmosphere.
  14. renewablejohn
    All the waste heat is vented to the atmosphere which is why the plant is so inefficient. It also uses timber with an average moisture content of 53% how stupid is that. If anybody is interested the type of plant and costings which got rejected by DECC as being to sophisticated are outlined in this report as "Turboden" we had already carried out our research and rejected the "Talbot" machine as untried and untested technology. http://www.glasu.org.uk/en/uploads/documents/CHP_summary_Jan07.pdf
  15. renewablejohn
    I wish I could get my hands on some of this money. Applied for grants twice for a very efficient CHP biomass plant and rejected because according to DECC the plants are to sophisticated. I admit the design is standard in Austria Germany and Italy were biomass plants are very sustainable and efficient instead the government support white elephants like Lockerbie (Stevens Croft). Our biomass operations can work efficiently with the pulp industry as we can use the brash discarded by the pulp operators.
  16. renewablejohn
    Does anybody have any experience of turpentine production. Looking at old photo's it would appear to be similar to rubber production but on pine trees. I would certainly like to have a go in my forest but unsure of the process and what sort of trees would be best. I have a choice of lodge pole pine, scots pine, larch and Norway spruce. Any help would be appreciated
  17. renewablejohn
    In our biomass power generation models the worst case scenario for power generation stiil to be profitable is £100 per tonne so I do expect prices to rise even further as more biomass comes on stream.
  18. renewablejohn
    I dont have a problem with direct tax as the government have still kept enough loop holes available for active avoidance. Its the indirect or stealth tax which is the killer, ie fuel duty, vat, fines, licences, rates
  19. renewablejohn
    Disappointed if I have to pay any tax.
  20. renewablejohn
    Yes there is a way I do it on a daily basis but dont try it with a newspaper press because it will not work. All you need is woodchip at less than 12% moisture content. A hammer mill and a briquette press. Simples (I forgot about the 50k investment)
  21. renewablejohn
    I hope you have already registered with the Environment Agency for the various exemptions otherwise you may be in for a nasty shock when the letter drops through your letter box. Site visit was only to suss out your operation the tedious desk work would start when he gets back to the office.
  22. renewablejohn
    My saw bench ran off the PTO and splitter off the tractor hydraulics so no down time. I now do the same with the processor with the splitter used for any rings to large for the processor.
  23. renewablejohn
    Managed to do this online with a mobile phone with a Yaris I was buying for my daughter recently. Had already agreed to pay £900 as a 10 year old Yaris with only 90k on the clock are like gold dust. Looked at seats and they looked tired so asked for MOT history and surprise surprise only current MOT available so input MOT number into DVLA site and out popped all the MOT certs showing vehicle had done over 145k at previous MOT and included failure certificates. Ended up very impressed with the service and saved £900.
  24. renewablejohn
    As a first machine a sawbench and separate log splitter is far cheaper than a processor.
  25. renewablejohn
    Beg to differ. Our local planning officers have run a vendetta against our farm over the last 12 years. We finally thought we had won in Oct 2009 when we had our permitted development barn approved on appeal. However it was subject to agreement on materials used and site levels which they have refused to agree to date. Fortunately we are over the 5 hectare limit but we still had to prove that horticulture could provide sufficient income density for such a small acreage. The county surveyor reckoned you would need a minimum of 150 hectares for a diary farm and 300 hectares for a sheep farm before he would classify them as viable.

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