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News OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN THE NHFT TEAM - FAR NORTH WOODLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT:Biodiversity Forester (Part time)Contractor for North Aspen Woods Survey.more....Funding for Northern Aspen Project and new Wood Pasture Project - NHFT have been awarded funding for a continuation of its existing Aspen project and for a new Wood Pasture project. |
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The Woodchip Fuel Cost Calculator This interactive CD-ROM has been produced in collaboration between the Campbell Palmer Partnership and the North Highland Forest Trust, representing a link between engineering and forestry. It marks the first attempt at providing the end user with a means of comparing the cost of woodchip for heating with the cost of other fuels. The aim is to provide a quick and easy to use 'ready reckoner' which allows the user to input cost data for their area for the various different steps in the woodchip supply chain. The result is a cost for woodchip calculated per kilowatt-hour enabling a direct comparison with other forms of commonly used fuel, eg. gas, oil and LPG. It is becoming increasingly popular to use woodchip systems. The technology involved is tried and tested and generally comes from Scandinavian countries where they have been using it for many years. Increasing the surface area of any given volume of wood by processing it in some way, e.g., chipping it, increases combustion efficiency of the burn, making the burning of chips or pellets much more cost effective than burning logs. While the costs of installing the boilers for burning woodchips are easily obtained, determining a cost for the fuel is more difficult because of the variables involved. In any given area the price for timber can vary greatly. Additionally the moisture content of the wood has an effect on both drying costs and transport costs. Therefore by leaving cut wood to dry at roadside over the summer months before transporting it will reduce the transport costs per tonne. Obviously it will also reduce drying costs, as much of the moisture will already have been lost. The calculator is designed for end users. It must be stressed that it should not be considered as a tool which would form the economic basis of a woodchip supply business. There are many other issues which would have to be considered, and this calculator is only designed to give the user an idea of the costs involved. As with any piece of computer software it is only as good and as accurate as the information used as input data. The Woodchip Fuel Cost Calculator costs £5.75, inc. postage and packing. Copies of the CD can be obtained from:
The Campbell Palmer Partnership Ltd
Site last updated: 25/09/2008 |
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Site Design by Marlyn Price |
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