Which one offers better sales, higher profits, and more stable production: pellets or briquettes?

Biomass pellets and biomass briquettes each have their own advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and applicability. Which is more economical? More applicable? Better sales and more stable?

First, in terms of cost-effectiveness, briquettes are superior to pellets!

Production Cost

Biomass pellets: The raw materials are mostly wood materials such as sawdust and pine wood. The production process is complex (requiring crushing and pelletizing), the equipment investment is large (for example, a 90kW pellet machine costs approximately 105-150 yuan/ton), and energy consumption is high (approximately 75 kWh/ton).

Biomass briquettes: The raw materials are primarily agricultural waste such as peanut shells and straw. The production process is relatively simple (requiring only crushing and extrusion), the equipment cost is low, and the energy consumption is low. The production cost is approximately 60%-70% of that of pellets. Market Price

Biomass pellets: The price is relatively high, approximately 830-850 yuan/ton (wood pellets), with some high-quality pellets reaching 900 yuan/ton.

Biomass briquettes: The price is low, approximately 420-550 yuan/ton, offering excellent value for money (depending on the raw material, some corn straw briquettes are reportedly as low as 350 yuan/ton).

Actual Cost

Biomass pellets: The calorific value is approximately 4000-4300 kcal/kg, with a boiler thermal efficiency of 85%. The cost of producing 1 ton of steam is approximately 152 yuan.

Biomass briquettes: The calorific value is approximately 3600-3800 kcal/kg, and the cost of producing 1 ton of steam is approximately 109 yuan, making them more economical than coal (137 yuan) and pellets.

II. Comparison of Applicability: Regardless of cost, pellets are superior for efficiency and convenience!

Applicable Equipment

Biomass pellets: Suitable for small and medium-sized boilers (such as burners, hot air furnaces, and fireplaces) due to their high calorific value, low ash content (≤6%), and stable combustion, making them suitable for applications requiring high fuel quality.

Biomass briquettes: More suitable for large industrial boilers (such as steam boilers and thermal oil boilers) due to their low price, moderate calorific value, and complete combustion, making them suitable for large-scale use.

Raw Materials and Environmental Performance

Biomass pellets: Made primarily from wood waste, they have a low ash content and produce little fly ash after combustion, but they are relatively expensive.

Biomass briquettes: Made primarily from agricultural straw, they have a high ash content (approximately 12%) and require regular boiler cleaning. However, their extremely low sulfur content (<0.1%) offers significant environmental advantages and complies with national emission reduction policies.

Storage and Transportation

Biomass pellets: High density (1.1-1.3 tons/cubic meter), compact size, and ease of storage and transportation, but they are costly per unit weight. Biomass briquettes: They have a lower density (0.8-1.2 tons/cubic meter) and take up more space, but are inexpensive and suitable for short-distance, large-scale transportation.

3. Choosing Pellets or Briquettes?

The choice should be based on your boiler size, fuel budget, and environmental requirements.

Prioritizing Economy: Choose biomass briquettes, especially for large boilers and cost-sensitive enterprises.

High Performance Requirements: Choose biomass pellets, suitable for small and medium-sized equipment or applications requiring high fuel stability.

Policy and Environmental Considerations: Both are clean energy sources, but briquettes are more cost-effective for deployment, while pellets are more competitive in the high-end market.