Case studies

After a long period on the sidelines, gasification is attracting new interest.

For businesses with ready access to a good source of wood fuel - and increasingly other forms of biomass - it could be a very attractive way of producing low-cost and low-emission heat and electricity. This article overviews the technology and shares the experience of the ‘advance guard' driving this technology forward in New Zealand.

Waste was one of the first considerations for Southern Pine Products when it started manufacturing MDF (medium density fibreboard) products.

The company opted to install a briquette press, which turns MDF dust into combustible briquettes for boiler fuel.

Moffatts Flower Company, a greenhouse complex only 5 km from Southern Pine, now buys all the briquettes the company produces.

The saving in Southern Pine's waste disposal costs is projected to be $180,000 a year and annual revenue from briquettes is projected to be around $25,000.

Switching to wood energy has helped Blenheim based PH Kinzett Ltd cut fuel costs at its greenhouse operation by 21%, helping to maintain profitability.

Read the case study below for full details.

Exorbitant yearly electricity bills of $100,000 at the Centennial Pool, run by Thames Coromandel District Council, meant that the facility faced partial closure. The decision to heat the pool using wood fuel instead of electricity has led to a dramatic decrease in energy consumption and running costs, ensuring that the pool stays open and has a bright future.

Estimated savings are $68,000 per year, with an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 200 tonnes.

Read the case study below to find out more.