Compared to industrial wood pellets, which have looser specifications, particularly regarding ash content, which can reach 6%, premium-grade wood pellets, for use in space heating, have stricter specifications, specifically a maximum ash content of 1%. Premium-grade wood pellets generally have a diameter of 6 mm, while industrial pellets are generally 8 mm. The color or appearance of premium-grade wood pellets also plays a role, with brighter colors generally preferred. This is why premium-grade wood pellets are naturally more expensive. Demand for premium-grade wood pellets increases during the winter due to the increased need for space heating.
Regarding ash content, several standards even stipulate ash content lower than 1%, such as DIN Plus with a maximum of 0.5%, ENPlus-A1 with a maximum of 0.7%, and Ö NORM M7135 which requires a maximum of 0.5%. This is why strict control of raw material selection and treatment is applied in the production of wood pellets to meet these specifications. Although the ash chemistry for premium grade wood pellets may not be as stringent as for industrial pellets because the application operation is at lower temperatures, the production of wood pellets with very low ash content requires high-quality raw materials.
In premium grade wood pellets, even a slight difference in ash content can significantly impact the selling price. For example, wood pellets with a maximum ash content of 0.55% can differ by around USD 30 per ton compared to wood pellets with a maximum ash content of 0.35%. Because they are used for space heating, premium grade wood pellets are generally packaged in small plastic bags, such as 15 kg, while ordinary industrial pellets are packaged in jumbo bags or even bulk due to the much larger volume requirements.
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