Renewable Energy
Black pellet to replace coal
Black pellets have superior energy and handling qualities, and are renewable and suitable for base loading and dispatching on demand. Carole Engelder reports.
Z
ilkha Biomass Energy is preparing to produce its Black Pellets commercially and licence its technology to third parties. Te Black pellet is an additive- free 100 per cent biomass pellet
with superior energy content and handling qualities. It is uniquely water-resistant and durable. Te proprietary Zilkha Biomass process is
an improvement in biomass pellet technology. Te Black pellet is abrasion resistant, increasing safety and reducing product loss during storage and transport. As a water- resistant solid fuel, unlike traditional ‘white’ pellets, it can be transported and stored outside like coal. Te Black pellet has a higher energy density than white pellets. Tis means Black pellet shipping costs are 30 per cent lower per mmBTU than white pellet. Te Zilkha Black pellet is being marketed to the utility market where coal is currently being burned. It can be stored outdoors, like coal and co-fired, up to 100 per cent at the power plant.
In contrast to coal, Te Zilkha Black pellet offers a much cleaner, renewable fuel. Emissions of all pollutants are reduced (SOx, NOx, CO2
, mercury).
It is well-known that many renewable energy sources occur intermittently (as with wind and solar). Te Zilkha Black pellet allows power generators to supply their customers with reliable green electricity using a base load fuel. Zilkha Black pellets are produced exclusively from
certified sustainable wood feedstock. Black pellets have also been produced from agricultural wastes or other local, sustainable wood sources, such as bagasse, bamboo and lumber mill byproducts. Zilkha Biomass Energy is constructing a
275,000 tonne/year Black pellet plant in Selma, Alabama. Te plant will be ready to begin delivering pellets to customers in Europe and the UK by early 2015. Additional plants are being developed in southeast United States and western Canada. Zilkha Black pellets are available for testing by
interested customers from a 40,000 tonne/year plant in Texas, operating since 2010. Zilkha Biomass Energy is owned by Selim and
Michael Zilkha and Paul G Allen’s Vulcan Capital. Te Zilkhas have a proven track record in the energy industry since 1983 with successful companies in oil and gas, wind power, and now biomass energy. ●
For more information ✔ at
www.engineerlive.com/ipe
Fig. 1. Durability and minimal dust during off-loading are logistical advantages of the Zilkha Black pellet.
Carole Engelder is with Zilkha Biomass Energy, Houston, Texas, USA.
www.zilkhabiomass.com
www.engineerlive.com 57
Fig. 2. Zilkha 275,000 ton per year Black pellet plant progressing toward completion.
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