Biomass pellets are small cylinders of dried, compressed plant material, burned as fuel in boilers, stoves and power plants. Wood is the most common raw material, but bamboo and rice husk make pellets too, and the raw material decides how the pellet burns. This guide covers how biomass pellets are made, how the three types Woodbase ships from Vietnam compare, and which to choose.
How Biomass Pellets Are Made
The raw material is dried, ground to a fine, even particle and pressed through a die under heat and pressure. The plant's own lignin softens and binds the pellet, so no glue is needed. The pellets are then cooled, screened to remove fines and packed. Because each pellet is the same size and dryness, a feeder can meter them into the burner and the fire runs at a steady rate.
Wood, Bamboo and Rice Husk Pellets Compared
| Wood Pellets | Bamboo Pellets | Rice Husk Pellets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calorific value | 4,000–4,300 kcal/kg | 4,200–4,400 kcal/kg | 4,000–4,200 kcal/kg |
| Ash | ≤ 2% | ≤ 2% | 12% |
| Moisture | ≤ 10% | ≤ 10% | ≤ 10% |
| Size | 6–8 mm × 10–40 mm | 6–8 mm × 10–40 mm | 6–8 mm × 10–40 mm |
| Packing | 650–700 kg jumbo bags or blown loose | 650–700 kg jumbo bags or blown loose | 50 kg PP bags or jumbo bags |
| Container load | 18 MT per 20ft, 26 MT per 40ft HQ | 18 MT per 20ft, 26 MT per 40ft | 18 MT per 20ft |
| Minimum order | 1 × 20ft | 10 × 20ft | On request |
| Supply | 500 MT a month | 500 MT a month | 500 MT a month |
Which Pellet to Choose
- Stoves and home boilers: choose a low-ash pellet, wood or bamboo at 2% ash or less, so the burner stays clean.
- Industrial boilers: wood and bamboo pellets give steady heat with little ash to remove. Rice husk pellets cost less but leave about 12% ash, so they suit boilers built to handle ash.
- Highest heat per tonne: bamboo pellets, at 4,200–4,400 kcal/kg.
Strengths and Limits
Biomass pellets are renewable, dense and easy to handle: they travel in bulk or in bags and feed automatically. Their limits are storage and spec. Pellets must be kept dry, because water swells them back into sawdust, and every burner is designed for a certain size, ash and calorific range, so the pellet has to match it. Many home-heating markets also ask for certification such as ENplus; see wood pellet specifications.
Biomass Pellets from Woodbase
See the product pages for Wood Pellets, Bamboo Pellets and Rice Husk Pellets, and read how wood pellets are used for each market. Send us the pellet, quantity and destination port for a quote.
