Wood pellets have a very wide range of uses. They can be used in stoves and boilers for fuel, as animal/horse bedding and even for BBQ. With such a wide range of uses, wood pellets are produced to different standards and qualities. For instance, when it comes to burning wood pellets the percentage of ash produced is an important consideration. However, when wood pellets are used for horse bedding how much ash those pellets produce when burnt is relevant. It should also be noted with BBQ wood pellets the standards referenced below do not apply. Therefore with this post, I wanted to discuss the different grades of wood pellets and what effects their grade/standard.
Premium Wood Pellets For Fuel Uses
There are various different grades of wood pellets used for fuel. The highest standard of pellets and the most expensive are referred to as ‘premium wood pellets’. These are uses raw materials from internationally approved plantations to ensure environmentally sustainable forest management. However, to produce premium wood pellets from logs the bark also has to be removed.
What Are True Premium Grade Wood Pellets?
To be considered as a premium grade wood pellet generally means the following requirements are met:
- Ash content at or below 0.7%
- Moisture content below 10%
- Good mechanical durability with low fines
As shown above, a premium grade wood pellet requires ash content below 0.7%. However, it also means the pellets produce very little dust, also known as fines. Finally, it means the wood pellets were produced to a sufficient density. Wood pellet density is very important, as a low-density wood pellet will produce more fines during transportation and handling. You can easily test for yourself if a wood pellet is produced to a good density by breaking the pellet horizontally as shown in the diagram below.
You can easily test if a wood pellets is produced to a good density by applying horizontal force to snap the wood pellets.
The Difference Between Premium, Standard and Utility Wood Pellets Grades
First, it’s important to note that all grades have the same required diameter and length. However, the premium grade has slightly higher durability (>96.5), lowers fines (>0.5%), lower ash content (>1%) and moisture content (>8%).