Wood Pellets Vs. Coal
Many Americans heat their homes or living spaces by burning some type of fuel in a freestanding stove. They may live in an area not serviced by natural gas lines, or they may reside in a temperate area with brief mild winters. A variety of fuels are available for burning in stoves. Some people burn wood pellets, others prefer to use anthracite (hard) coal. Their choice may be based upon a number of factors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Availability
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Most anthracite coal is mined and processed in the hard coal country of northeast Pennsylvania. It must be transported everywhere else. Transportation costs influence the per/ton price of coal and can reduce its availability and attractiveness as a fuel source. As an example, the price of a ton of coal in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, will be much lower than it would be in the mountain towns of Wyoming. Thus, not all areas of the United States have hard coal dealers. However, as timber is cut in dozens of places, wood pellet producers are scattered across the country.
Packaging
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Wood pellets are sold in bulk, or in 40 lb. bags. You can buy a single bag, a pallet load, or have it delivered loose by the truckload. Coal is generally sold in 50 lb. bags or delivered loose. Storage of either fuel takes up some amount of floor space, and may require a large bin or bunker to store it in. When dumped loose into a bin, both fuels produce some amount of airborne dust, which needs time to settle.
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What's in It
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Anthracite coal is a hard shiny high carbon coal that burns very hot and produces little flame. And while it may be sold in several sizes, such as rice, pea or chestnut, it is of a consistent composition: coal. Wood pellets on the other hand, may contain a number of ingredients, such as hardwood or softwood sawdust, cardboard, other varieties of biomass, and some type of binder such as wax or glue. When buying wood pellets it may be advisable to check the ingredients listed on the bag, or question the dealer.
Heat Output
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When comparing heat output/pound or ton, anthracite coal is the clear winner. The BTU rating for hard coal will range between 22 and 30 million BTU/ton. Because of their varied composition, the heat from a ton of wood pellets may range from about 17.5 to 19.5 million BTU/ton. If you take an average BTU rating from each fuel, coal produces about 7.5 million more BTU/ton than pellets. If expressed as a percentage; it equates to 40 percent more.
Price
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Coal prices range from $220//ton for loose coal, to $280/ton for a pallet load of 50 bags that are 40 lb. Wood pellets sell for $255/ton for a pallet load of 50 bags that are 40 lb. So a pallet load of pellets sells for about 10 percent less than an equivalent weight of bagged hard coal. However, as coal produces about 40 percent more BTU/ton than pellets, it is a more cost effective heat source. Coal is typically purchased from a local coal dealer. Many Tractor Supply stores carry bagged wood pellets.
The prices quoted were as of October 2009, in and around Syracuse, New York. Based on your geographic location, these prices might vary.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Pedro Dias
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Comments
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cbc6
Jan 08, 2010
pellets need to stay dry,that means inside storage or at least under cover. coal doesnt care if its wet or dry, would rather be able to store it outside and not have to worry about it
