Straw fires and sustainability
As the focus on climate, green energy and energy efficiency grows, more and more people in the energy sector, industry and agriculture are gradually converting their combustion plants to burn biomass instead of fossil fuels. There are even examples of companies that have switched from burning wood pellets to straw instead.
The fact that it is better to burn straw instead of oil or coal is a clear advantage, but it is also an advantage to have a biofuel plant that can burn straw instead of wood pellets or other products that we in Denmark have less control over where they come from. Wood pellets can come from far away, which means there is less control over whether the pellets contain more than just wood.
For example, it’s not good if the wood pellets are made of painted or impregnated wood. In contrast, straw often comes from Danish agriculture and therefore has to be transported a shorter distance, and due to agricultural regulation, there is greater control over what can be in the straw.
If you choose a straw boiler over systems designed to burn fossil fuels, you are choosing sustainability, climate and economy.
Choose biomass burning instead of fossil fuels
The fact that something is called biofuel means that it is a biological material that is primarily found above the earth’s surface. Biomass can include straw, wood chips, wood pellets, waste wood, grain millings, wood shavings/sawdust, elephant grass, seed grass, olive stones, cherry stones, coffee grounds and seed grass.
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are materials that come from dead animals and plants. This makes fossil fuels difficult to get more of when the supply is depleted. In contrast, many biofuels are considered to be sources of renewable energy. However, they are not renewable like solar and wind energy, as they are, after all, finite in their current form.
A smaller carbon footprint with green energy
When you burn biomass (which is often just waste products) instead of fossil fuels, you reduce pollution and also reduce the demand for fossil fuels. In addition, burning straw, for example, often results in a lower price for both you and your customers.
To a large extent, pollution is about CO2 emissions, and some of the worst fuels in this regard are fossil fuels. This is because they contain carbon dioxide, which is released when the material is burned.
However, CO2 is necessary for everything to work. Humans exhale oxygen, which contains 4% CO2, and the CO2 (also known as carbon dioxide) is absorbed by plants. Plants release oxygen, which is vital for humans. It’s a good balance between humans, animals, plants and algae etc. and CO2 is not a bad thing in itself, but it is a problem when there is too much CO2 in the air. Increased CO2 causes global warming, among other things.
Many pros and few cons
There are many advantages to choosing a straw boiler over other types of burning. However, the advantage of our flare systems is that they can be customized to burn a variety of fuels in the boilers. This means you don’t have to burn only straw. For example, your system can burn wood pellets, wood waste, wood chips and grain millings. How many different fuels you can burn in your system depends on the number of boilers.
For example, if your business is located near a factory that produces olive oil or cherry juice or liqueur, it’s a good idea to have a boiler that can burn the stones from the olives/cherries.
The many benefits of our systems include
- Long-lasting burning solution
- Cheap fuel in the form of waste materials such as straw
- Less CO2 emissions
- Automated systems with minimal maintenance
- Intelligent control and monitoring of the system
- Competent and friendly service, support and advice
- Possibility to expand the facility in the future
One of the only downsides to burning straw, for example, is that it produces dust/smoke particles that could potentially bother neighbors or employees at nearby businesses. If your system is of a certain size and if there are no other purification options, your system will probably need to be equipped with a cyclone.
Improved energy efficiency with Linka
If you’re ready to make the switch to green energy, write or call us today. Don’t hesitate to improve your energy efficiency. You can save both money and CO2 emissions, and if your customers rely on heating from your heating plant, they will appreciate the lower heating prices.
Read more about sustainable energy on this page.
See our straw boilers/plants here:
Straw: 250 - 5,000 kW
Linka's fully automated straw plant is delivered with straw shredder and conveyor, customized according to boiler size and the customer's needs.
Straw: 250 - 15,000 kW
Linka's fully automated straw plant is delivered with straw shredder and conveyor, customized according to boiler size and the customer's needs.
Straw heating plant: 1,000 - 15,000 kW
Linka’s chips system consists of a scraper unit, which supplies a constant feed of the pre-set amount of wood chips.
Straw heating plant: 400 - 15,000 kW
A wood chips based heating plant is also developed after the customer's needs, etc. Smaller systems usually consist of a scraper unit while larger plants use a crane.
Other fuel types and plant sizes
Linka can also adjust our systems for other fuel types than the conventional types, e.g. grass seed, straw briquettes, corncobs and cherry stones.