| Since the beginning of the 21st century, the growth | | | | electricity. They actually burn better than coal, |
| of wood pellets has surpassed the expectations of | | | | producing more heat and less ash. The wood pellets |
| many, and is on its way to been one of the major | | | | also help to lower the carbon emissions coming from |
| green fuels of the present and future. Pellets are | | | | the power plant. |
| simply compressed forms of timber residue, mainly | | | | Some countries have taken the use of biomass |
| from the waste from timber production. Under | | | | further than others. For example in 2009 Sweden |
| intense heat and pressure, the sawdust is | | | | was the first country to use more biomass energy, |
| compressed into pellet form. They have a uniform | | | | mostly from wood pellets than oil. By 2030 Sweden |
| size, shape and density, which make them ideal as a | | | | wishes to remove all fossil fuels from transportation, |
| fuel source. They are mostly used as a home heating | | | | energy and heat. Through actively supporting the |
| fuel in pellet stoves and biomass boilers. This does | | | | biomass market, Sweden has also created jobs in the |
| remove the need for using heating oil in homes, | | | | processing of local forestry waste into pellets for |
| however some countries are taking wood pellets | | | | fuel. |
| further, using them to produce electricity. | | | | Biomass is a green fuel, in the sense they are a |
| Coal power plants are still a major contributor of | | | | carbon neutral source of energy. Carbon is consumed |
| electricity for most western countries. However coal | | | | during the life cycle of the tree, and then released |
| power plants are responsible for some of the worst | | | | again once biomass is burnt. The effect is a zero |
| carbon emissions, therefore using coal to produce | | | | increase the level of carbon dioxide within the |
| electricity is been phased out. Many coal power plants | | | | atmosphere. Therefore wood pellets can also help us |
| are now using biomass along with coal to produce | | | | tackle climate change. |