Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Wood Pellet Heat in the Northern Forest
Analysis shows wood pellet fuel reduces greenhouse gas by 54% vs. oil, and 59% vs. natural gas
The Northern Forest Center commissioned a study of the greenhouse gas impacts of heating buildings with state-of-the-art wood pellet boilers. For the analysis, the Spatial Informatics Group-Natural Assets Laboratory (SIG-NAL) used data specific to the region’s forest composition and har vest practices, and the pellet sourcing and manufacturing of 9 out of 10 Northern Forest pellet mills, all of which produce pellets exclusively for thermal (heat) generation. The life-cycle analysis shows:
• On day one, using wood pellets for heat in the Northern Forest reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% compared to oil and natural gas.
• After 50 years, greenhouse gas emissions from pellets drop to 62% less than oil, 67% less than natural gas, and 56% less than propane.
Read the full study at: Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Wood Pellet Heat in the Northern Forest
“The conversion to MESys boilers has saved the district over $100,000 in the first year of operation and they require less maintenance than the oil boilers they replaced.”
—Ken Coville, Superintendent, MSAD #74
