Wood pellet benefits touted
Workshop shows high heating costs can be offset by alternative fuel
Mark Rieder
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 30, 2015
INUVIK
The Arctic Energy Alliance held an information fair to promote the benefits of wood pellet stoves at Aurora College's Inuvik campus July 22.
Margaret Mahon, energy management specialist with Arctic Energy Alliance, lights a small camp stove that also generates an electrical charge during a wood pellet stove fair July 22. - Mark Rieder/NNSL photo
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Linda Todd, program co-ordinator with the Arctic Energy Alliance's Yellowknife office, said there is a growing demand for the technology in town.
"Here in Inuvik, you're starting to see larger businesses installing pellet boilers to heat their buildings," she said, "They do that because it makes sense. It makes economic sense and it's a reliable way of heating."
The newer generation of wood stoves are more efficient and create less pollution, Todd said.
"New technologies in wood stoves came about because people in larger urban centres were getting concerned about the smoke and the emissions, so that resulted in really good technology," she said.
In remote communities, shipping costs can be the biggest contributor to the price of a wood pellet heating system. According to a 2009 study by the energy alliance, the majority of wood pellets used in the NWT come from either La Crete, Alta., or Vanderhoof, British Columbia.
With increasing energy costs, the use of wood pellets has become more attractive as an alternative energy source in Inuvik.
"Wood pellets have been shown to be cheaper, generally, than heating with oil or natural gas," said Todd. "For some people, this might be an option to supplement their current heating system."
But there are the same barriers faced by all energy sources coming in from outside the region.
"The key for Inuvik is the transportation of the pellets. That's growing, it has started. You have it trucked and you are starting to see people talk about it," said Todd.
She said the fuel distribution system is growing.
"Businesses that require bulk pellet delivery, that's starting to happen," said Todd
With increased demand for wood pellets comes the potential for reduced costs.
Todd said there are other considerations when looking at wood pellet heating systems. One is cleaning the leftover ash out of the system
"There is no form of heating that doesn't require maintenance," said Todd. "Some people have their eyes open with what they buy."
