Crispin,
I'm not current on grain prices but there are often low grade, semi
spoiled, contaminated, bin ends and the such that get looked at for
these purposes. At least I know a greenhouse that burns grains
opportunistically. It is, in a sense, a difficulty for the ag pellet
business having to complete with unpredictable prices and availability
of 'waste' or residue fuels setting the market floor price, but its
hardly a market at this point.
As far as partial burn economics, on paper it could work. If we need
50% more fuel for the same heat, at $50/tonne we now spend $75 for that
heat but we have say .2 Tonne of Char.
If it can do the work of $50(untrustworthy number alert) of potting
soil/media then your ahead. It gets a bit tricky here because we would
need to switch from mass to the functional volume measurement. The
devil/angel is in the logistics and specifics. How much extra capital
investment is required? Ag residue fuel chars may be to high in salts.
Do you have the scale and skill to efficiently produce and
handle/size/sort char and mix all your potting soil? Can you sell the
surplus? Can you get multiple/extra years of use? Does it still have
value after use?
Not to mention the cutting edge cache :)
Prospecting,
Alex
On 14/09/2012 3:17 AM, Crispin P-P wrote:
Dear Alex
I like the idea of finding a use for fuel that doesn't burn well at
all and pyrolysing it to get a good quality burn.
I was discussing pellets v.s. corn with Arend Ten Hove from the Bay of
Quinte area yesterday and it seems corn is or was cheaper than wood.
Something like $110 per ton delivered. Is that still true?
Given your need for potting / growth material would you be able to
justify not burning carbon you paid to have delivered?
Can you see any break-even prospect?
Thanks
Crispin
_______________________________________________
Stoves mailing list
to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
[email protected]
to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/stoves_lists.bioenergylists.org
for more Biomass Cooking Stoves, News and Information see our web site:
http://www.bioenergylists.org/
