Portuguese Wood Pellets Market: Organization, Production and Consumption Analysis

Wood pellets are a form of energy that can be seen as an alternative to fossil fuels, thus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In other words, wood pellets can be considered a solution contributing to the mitigation of climate change. The use of wood pellets has grown significantly in recent years, with different markets emerging, such as Portugal, both from production and consumption perspectives. The wood pellet industry in Portugal began its development about 15 years ago, with the companies installed in the country initially almost exclusively dedicated to the production of wood pellets for export to central and northern European markets. However, over the years, the domestic market, initially considered insignificant, began to develop; it recently reached a considerable consuming share of the national production. This study presents an analysis of the Portuguese wood pellet market using data collected on the sector, and specifically on producers and consumers. The information was gathered using surveys presented directly to consumers and producers and through interviews with other stakeholders in the sector. From the analysis of the information, it was possible to understand the market’s dynamics, its current evolution and its prospects for the upcoming years, since it can already be considered mature and consolidated.

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Contested imaginaries and the cultural political economy of climate change

Organization ◽

10.1177/1350508413489816 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 659-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

David L. Levy ◽

André Spicer

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Political Economy ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Energy System ◽

State Agencies ◽

Sustainable Lifestyles ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Cultural Political Economy ◽

Shared Understandings

This article analyses the evolving cultural political economy of climate change by developing the concept of ‘climate imaginaries’. These are shared socio-semiotic systems that structure a field around a set of shared understandings of the climate. Climate imaginaries imply a particular mode of organizing production and consumption, and a prioritization of environmental and cultural values. We use this concept to examine the struggle among NGOs, business and state agencies over four core climate imaginaries. These are ‘fossil fuels forever’, ‘climate apocalypse’, ‘techno-market’ and ‘sustainable lifestyles’. These imaginaries play a key role in contentions over responses to climate change, and we outline three main episodes in the past two decades: the carbon wars of the 1990s, an emergent carbon compromise between 1998–2008 and a climate impasse from 2009 to the present. However, climate imaginaries only become dominant when they connect with wider popular interests and identities and align with economic and technological aspects of the energy system to constitute ‘value regimes’.

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Modification of Energy Parameters in Wood Pellets with the Use of Waste Cooking Oil

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14206486 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (20) ◽

pp. 6486

Author(s):

Aneta Saletnik ◽

Bogdan Saletnik ◽

Czesław Puchalski

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Waste Cooking Oil ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Wood Pellet ◽

Heating Value ◽

Energy Parameters ◽

Cooking Oil

Biomass is one of the most important sources of renewable energy. It is expected that in the coming decades, biomass will play a major role in replacing fossil fuels. The most commonly used biofuels include wood pellet, which is a cost-effective, uniform and easy-to-use material. In view of the growing interest in this type of resource, novel methods are being investigated to improve the quality of pellet. This article presents the results of a laboratory study focusing on wood pellets refined with waste sunflower cooking oil applied by spraying. In this work, authors attempted to modify the energy parameters of wood pellets with the use of waste cooking oil. Addition of waste cooking oil, applied at the rates of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% and 12% relative to the weight of pellets, increased the calorific value of the pellets without decreasing their durability. The highest dose of the modifier (12%) on average led to a 12–16% increase in calorific value. In each case, the addition of sunflower oil resulted in decreased contents of ash in the pellets; on average a decrease of 16–38% was observed in the samples treated with the highest dose of the modifier. The treatment led to a higher content of elements affecting the heating value, i.e., carbon and hydrogen, which on average increased by 7.5–12%, and 7.0–10.0%, respectively. The presented method seems to be a promising way of increasing the calorific value of pellets. Further research on refining the method and the possibility of using it in industry is necessary.

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Combustion Gases And Heat Release Analysis During Flame And Flameless Combustion Of Wood Pellets

Research Papers Faculty of Materials Science and Technology Slovak University of Technology ◽

10.1515/rput-2015-0002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 23 (36) ◽

pp. 17-24

Author(s):

Jozef Horváth ◽

Igor Wachter ◽

Karol Balog

Keyword(s):

Heat Flux ◽

Alternative Fuels ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Flameless Combustion ◽

Wood Pellet ◽

Combustion Gases ◽

Two Samples ◽

Release Analysis ◽

Fire Characteristics

Abstract With the growing prices of fossil fuels, alternative fuels produced of biomass come to the fore. They are made of waste materials derived from the processing of wood and wood materials. The main objective of this study was to analyse the fire-technical characteristics of wood pellets. The study analysed three dust samples acquired from wood pellets made of various types of wood biomass. Wood pellet dust is produced when manipulating with pellets. During this process a potentially hazardous situations may occur. Biomass is chemically composed mostly of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. During straining of the biomass by heat flux, combustion initiation occurs. Also, there was a change in the composition of material throughout combustion gases production, and the amount of heat generated by a flame or flameless combustion. Measurement of fire characteristics was conducted according to ISO 5660-1 standard using a cone calorimeter. Two samples of wood pellet dust were tested under the heat flux of 35 kW.m−2 and 50 kW.m−2. The process of combustion, the time to ignition, the carbon monoxide concentration and the amount of released heat were observed.

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Life Cycle Assessment of Wood Pellet Production in Thailand

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12176996 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (17) ◽

pp. 6996 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Piyarath Saosee ◽

Boonrod Sajjakulnukit ◽

Shabbir Gheewala

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Wood Pellet ◽

Pellet Production ◽

Production Processes

Thailand has increased wood pellet production for export and domestic use. The variations in production processes, raw materials, and transportation related to wood pellet production make it necessary to evaluate the environmental impacts assessment. The objective of this study was to compare via Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), eight different cases of wood pellet production varying in terms of raw materials, production processes, energy use, and the format of transportation and to compare LCA of electricity production from wood pellets and fossil fuels. The comparison results show that leucaena is better as a feedstock for wood pellet production than acacia due to shorter harvest cycle and lesser use of resources. Pellet production consumes the most energy contributing significantly to the environmental impacts. The use of fossil fuels in wood pellet production and transportation also has a major contribution to the environmental impacts. Using wood pellets for electricity production is better than lignite in terms of human health, ecosystem quality and resource scarcity. Recommendations from this study include increasing yield of feedstock plants, shortening harvest cycle, reducing overuse of fertilizers and herbicides, pollution control, reducing fossil fuel use in the supply chain, good logistics, feedstock access, and offering incentives considering the externality cost.

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Impact of wood pellets export on the development of their production in Serbia with the effects of substituting enegry from fossil fuels and reduction of carbon dioxide emission

Glasnik Sumarskog fakulteta ◽

10.2298/gsf1614055g ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 55-74

Author(s):

Branko Glavonjic ◽

Aleksandra Lazarevic ◽

Dragan Comic

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽

The European Union ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Wood Pellet ◽

Existing Problems ◽

Production Increase ◽

Installed Capacity ◽

The Impact ◽

Consumption Demand

The paper presents the results of researching the impact of export on the production of wood pellets as well as the situation on the market for this wood fuel in Serbia. Objective of the research was to produce scientifically and professionally founded conclusions and the related adequate recommendations to the decision makers in order to improve the situation on wood pellets market in Serbia and eliminate the existing problems which significantly burden and slow down this development. Special objective of the research was to observe the contributions of wood pellets to the mitigation of climate changes using Serbia as the example. Results of the conducted research show that the expansion of the consumption (demand) increase in the European Union countries in the last fifteen years and the related increase of export from Serbia are the most significant factors which have influenced the development of wood pellets production in Serbia. Parameters of econometric model of the impact of export on the increase of production show that production increase of 1.17% can be expected with the increase of export of 1%. Thus, the number of wood pellet producers has rapidly increased in the last ten years, from 2 producers in 2006 to 52 active producers in 2016. Increase of the number of producers was also accompanied by the increase of the installed capacities. At the end of 2015, total installed capacities for wood pellet production in Serbia reached 550 thousand tons, and the realized production was 229 thousand tons, or 41.6% of the installed capacity. Consumption of wood pellets in Serbia in the last four years achieved significant increase and reached the level of 89 thousand tons in 2015. However, concerning the segment of wood pellets consumption in Serbia, the situation is still unsatisfactory despite the fact that the consumption has been increasing year after year. Average price of 1 kWh of energy from wood pellets exported from Serbia was in the range 20-44 ?$, which is 2.1 to 3.2 times less than the price of 1 kWh of energy from the natural gas which was imported in Serbia in the observed period.

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Tweeting About Climate: Which Politicians Speak Up and What Do They Speak Up About?

Social Media + Society ◽

10.1177/20563051211033815 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 205630512110338

Author(s):

Chao Yu ◽

Drew B. Margolin ◽

Jennifer R. Fownes ◽

Danielle L. Eiseman ◽

Allison M. Chatrchyan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

At Risk ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Federal State ◽

Role Analysis ◽

Local Politicians ◽

Level Of Concern ◽

State And Local ◽

Using Data ◽

Speak Up

This study examines tweets ( N = 1,103,119) sent by 638 US politicians regarding climate change ( N = 10,135). Using data reflecting the risks faced and opinions held by their constituents, the extent to which politicians lead—tweeting about climate change for those most at risk, called trusteeship—or follow—tweeting about climate change for those who are already concerned, called playing to the crowed—is examined. Results reveal that while Democrats generally tweet about climate change more often than Republicans, within each party, tweeting frequency is mostly explained by the level of concern in a politicians’ constituency. Objective risks faced by constituents play no role. Analysis of behavior across different office levels—federal, state, and local—also shows that while federal politicians are more partisan, state and local politicians play to the crowd to a greater degree. Analysis of the tweets shows the politicians’ unequal engagement leads to over-representations of some topics (e.g., “calls for action”) and under-representations of other topics (e.g., criticizing fossil fuels and deniers).

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Pollutant emission from a heat station supplied with agriculture biomass and wood pellet mixture

Chemical and Process Engineering ◽

10.2478/v10176-012-0020-3 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 231-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marek Juszczak ◽

Katarzyna Lossy

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

Pollutant Emission ◽

Heat Output ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Wood Pellet ◽

Carbon Monoxide Concentration ◽

Heat Efficiency ◽

Air Stream ◽

Fuel Mixtures ◽

Lower Carbon

Pollutant emission from a heat station supplied with agriculture biomass and wood pellet mixtureTests for combustion of hay and sunflower husk pellets mixed with wood pellets were performed in a horizontal-feed as well as under-feed (retort) wood pellet furnace installed in boilers with a nominal heat output of 15 and 20 kW, located in a heat station. During the combustion a slagging phenomenon was observed in the furnaces. In order to lower the temperature in the furnace, fuel feeding rate was reduced with unaltered air stream rate. The higher the proportion of wood pellets in the mixture the lower carbon monoxide concentration. The following results of carbon monoxide concentration (in mg/m3presented for 10% O2content in flue gas) for different furnaces and fuel mixtures (proportion in wt%) were obtained: horizontal-feed furnace supplied with hay/wood: 0/100 - 326; 30/70 - 157; 50/50 - 301; 100/0 - 3300; horizontal-feed furnace supplied with sunflower husk/wood: 50/50 - 1062; 67/33 - 1721; 100/0 - 3775; under-feed (retort) furnace supplied with hay/wood: 0/100 - 90; 15/85 - 157; 30/70 - 135; 50/50 - 5179; under-feed furnace supplied with sunflower husk/wood: 67/33 - 2498; 100/0 - 3128. Boiler heat output and heat efficiency was low: 7 to 13 kW and about 55%, respectively, for the boiler with horizontal-feed furnace and 9 to 14 kW and 64%, respectively, for the boiler with under-feed furnace.

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Smart Cities and Smart Regulation

10.1093/oso/9780198822080.003.0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anita Rønne

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

System Analysis ◽

New Technologies ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy System ◽

Political Agenda ◽

Smart Regulation

Increasing focus on sustainable societies and ‘smart cities’ due to emphasis on mitigation of climate change is simultaneous with ‘smart regulation’ reaching the forefront of the political agenda. Consequently, the energy sector and its regulation are undergoing significant innovation and change. Energy innovations include transition from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources and application of new computer technology, interactively matching production with consumer demand. Smart cities are growing and projects are being initiated for development of urban areas and energy systems. Analysis from ‘Smart Cities Accelerator’, developed under the EU Interreg funding programme that includes Climate-KIC,——provides background for the focus on a smart energy system. Analysis ensures the energy supply systems support the integration of renewables with the need for new technologies and investments. ‘Smart’ is trendy, but when becoming ‘smart’ leads to motivation that is an important step towards mitigating climate change.

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Post COVID-19 Recovery and 2050 Climate Change Targets: Changing the Emphasis from Promotion of Renewables to Mandated Curtailment of Fossil Fuels in the EU Policies

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14051347 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 1347

Author(s):

Kyriakos Maniatis ◽

David Chiaramonti ◽

Eric van den Heuvel

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

European Union ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Global Economy ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Global Climate ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Climate Change Policy ◽

Climate Impacts ◽

The European Union

The present work considers the dramatic changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the global economy, with particular emphasis on energy. Focusing on the European Union, the article discusses the opportunities policy makers can implement to reduce the climate impacts and achieve the Paris Agreement 2050 targets. The analysis specifically looks at the fossil fuels industry and the future of the fossil sector post COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis first revises the fossil fuel sector, and then considers the need for a shift of the global climate change policy from promoting the deployment of renewable energy sources to curtailing the use of fossil fuels. This will be a change to the current global approach, from a relative passive one to a strategically dynamic and proactive one. Such a curtailment should be based on actual volumes of fossil fuels used and not on percentages. Finally, conclusions are preliminary applied to the European Union policies for net zero by 2050 based on a two-fold strategy: continuing and reinforcing the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive to 2035, while adopting a new directive for fixed and over time increasing curtailment of fossils as of 2025 until 2050.

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Comparing respondents who passed versus failed an Instructional Manipulation Check: A case study about support for climate change policies

International Journal of Market Research ◽

10.1177/14707853211023039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 408-415

Author(s):

Maria Rubio Juan ◽

Melanie Revilla

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

External Validity ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Manipulation Check ◽

Climate Change Policies ◽

Instructional Manipulation ◽

Using Data

The presence of satisficers among survey respondents threatens survey data quality. To identify such respondents, Oppenheimer et al. developed the Instructional Manipulation Check (IMC), which has been used as a tool to exclude observations from the analyses. However, this practice has raised concerns regarding its effects on the external validity and the substantive conclusions of studies excluding respondents who fail an IMC. Thus, more research on the differences between respondents who pass versus fail an IMC regarding sociodemographic and attitudinal variables is needed. This study compares respondents who passed versus failed an IMC both for descriptive and causal analyses based on structural equation modeling (SEM) using data from an online survey implemented in Spain in 2019. These data were analyzed by Rubio Juan and Revilla without taking into account the results of the IMC. We find that those who passed the IMC do differ significantly from those who failed for two sociodemographic and five attitudinal variables, out of 18 variables compared. Moreover, in terms of substantive conclusions, differences between those who passed and failed the IMC vary depending on the specific variables under study.

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