Project Feasibility (top of page)

 

Project Feasibility

Elements of a Good Project

Feasibility Assessments

 

 

Project Feasibility

 

Biomass is a versatile energy option that can work in a variety of applications including heating, cooling, and electricity generation—alone or in combination.

 

Systems are available at all scales, including:

·         Small, manual-fed cordwood furnaces

·         Commercial pellet-fired boilers starting at 100,000 BTUs/hr

·         Automated wood chip systems starting at 1 million BTUs/hr

·         Industrial combined heat and power (CHP)

 

Integration of biomass boiler systems within the Fuels for Schools and Beyond program range from a 600,000 BTU/hr pellet system at Townsend Schools, Montana to a 30 million BTU/hr wood-chip fired combined heat and power (CHP) system at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, Nevada. 

 

 

Elements of a Good Project back to top

 

There are a few things that can make a facility well suited for biomass energy:

1. High heat demand and high fossil fuel costs. Generally, if a facility is not using at least 2,500 dekatherms/year of natural gas or spending at least $20,000 annually on heating fuel (natural gas, propane, fuel oil) they won’t be likely candidates for conversion.  However, there are exceptions if installing very small furnace systems.  
2. Proximity to a wood fuel source can be important in that generally, the closer the supply, the cheaper the fuel.  A haul distance from a forest source of 30-50 air miles (est. 50-80 road miles) can generally keep costs of wood fuel reasonable at a rate of $35-40/ton.  Other biomass fuel sources can include wood pellets, sawmill residues and municipal wood waste such as clean demolition waste and urban trees which may be nearby. 
3. Space available for the biomass burner, fuel storage, and access for delivery trucks.
4. It’s more cost-effective to install a biomass boiler system in the new construction of a facility compared to integrating it into an existing system.
5. A simple payback on investment within 10 years is desirable.
6. Enthusiasm  of the facility staff and community

 

 

Feasibility Assessments back to top

 

Located in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, or North Dakota?

You may be eligible for a Preliminary Engineering Assessment sponsored by your state Fuels for Schools Program Coordinator. 

Click here for details and links to each state’s Pre-Feasibility Assessment Application form.

 

Located outside of these states? Or want to conduct your own assessment? 

The following resources may be helpful: 

 

Listing of other state forestry biomass programs

 

Wood Energy Calculator Michigan Wood Energy

Conduct a quick preliminary feasibility assessment using a simple online calculator. 

Developed by CTA Architects and Engineers and Southeast Michigan RC&D.

 

Wood-Fueled Boiler Financial Feasibility Analysis

An interactive spreadsheet program that allows facilities or consultants to input facility specific data into the spreadsheet and receive an output of a preliminary feasibility assessment.  Developed by Bob Govett at the U of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point.

View and download the User’s Manual  and Interactive Spreadsheet

 

Wood-Chip Heating Systems Guide Tim Maker, Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC)

 

Wood Pellet Heating Guide Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources

 

Where Wood Works Flexible Energy Communities Initiative

 

List of Consultants who may offer feasibility assessments