Wood Pellet Manufacturing Plant in Damblain

The Damblain BioPellets project is a ready-to-build wood pellet manufacturing plant that will be located in the commune of Damblain in the department of Vosges (88). The plant is scheduled to be operational by September 2028.

Located on the site of a former NATO base, owned by the General Council of Vosges and the Department, the future plant has obtained environmental authorization and building permits for its realization.

The Enerfip financing will enable the completion of the final studies and the establishment of the last contracts in view of a senior financial closing by mid-2026.

The future pellet production plant will have a production capacity of 120,000 tonnes per year. Although the average pellet consumption depends on several factors (size of the residence, insulation, weather, thermal comfort required), the annual consumption of a household is estimated at 1.5 tonnes. This production tool will therefore have the capacity to meet the needs of approximately 80,000 households equipped with a pellet stove.

Wood Pellets

Pellets, also known as wood pellets, are small cylinders of wood (ranging in length from 10 to 30 mm, with a diameter of 9 mm), made from the compaction of wood by-products. They are manufactured from natural waste (from sawmills and/or forestry operators), which is refined, dried, and then assembled under high pressure. Thus, no tree is specifically felled for their manufacture.

1. An Economical Heating Solution

source: Propellet

Despite an energy price crisis in 2022 (which has since returned to normal), heating with wood pellets is significantly cheaper compared to electricity, propane gas, heating oil, or natural gas.

2. An Ecological Heating Solution

Unlike fossil fuels such as gas or oil, which take millions of years to replenish their stock, the wood resource regenerates quickly, which does not significantly increase the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere over the resource’s regeneration period. The carbon footprint is low, meaning the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during combustion is practically the same as when a growing tree absorbs this amount of carbon dioxide. Consequently, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by more than 90% compared to heating oil. Additionally, the production of wood pellets is based on waste from forestry activities and related industries.

3. A Local Heating Solution

Evolution of wood pellet production and consumption in France
source: Propellet

French consumption of pellets exceeds production. Therefore, there is an interest in creating production facilities in the country to strengthen France’s energy independence. Wood pellets manufactured in France are subject to strict quality standards, ensuring a high-performance and reliable product. By purchasing locally, you benefit from complete traceability, ensuring that the pellets come from sustainable and responsible sources. Certifications such as DINplus or ENplus attest to this quality.

Additionally, the procurement strategy for this project involves sourcing raw materials within a 150 km radius of the manufacturing plant. Several letters of intent have been received from suppliers of forestry waste and sawmills as part of the supply for this plant.

4. A Simple Heating Solution

Technological advancements over the past few decades have made pellet stoves reliable and efficient, requiring only a steady supply of quality pellets and basic regular maintenance. The autonomy of stoves can reach up to 3 days, and that of boilers up to 1 year. For pellet stoves, the bags of pellets weigh between 10 kg and 15 kg. They are easily storable in a garage, protected from humidity, and avoiding direct contact with the ground. For a pellet boiler, the minimum space required for storage is approximately 1 m3. There are turnkey solutions such as textile silos that can be positioned up to 20 meters from the boiler.

Many industries are also converting their gas, oil, or coal boilers to pellet boilers to meet decarbonization and carbon quota objectives, thus multiplying the commercial outlets for the project.

To learn more about wood pellets: Propellet (National Association of Wood Pellet Heating Professionals)

Wood Pellet Manufacturing Process

Wood pellets are made from by-products of sawmills, such as wood cuts, sawdust, or wood chips, as well as forestry operation waste such as tree tops, small branch residues, and low-diameter thinning wood. The pellet manufacturing process involves compacting sawdust and chips to make them usable for pellet boilers and stoves. This process consists of several steps to produce high-quality, high-performance pellets that meet standards.

1. Bark Removal

First, the various cutting waste is separated from its bark.

2. Crushing

All inputs are crushed to obtain fine sawdust.

3. Drying

The obtained sawdust is dried using a biomass boiler (also fueled by wood waste) to control the moisture content, which must be less than 10%.

4. Dry Crushing

A second crushing step is performed with the dry sawdust.

5. Compaction

The sawdust is then compacted by a special press to form the pellets. This high pressure allows the cohesion of the pellet without any binder or additive.

6. Cooling

The pellets are cooled (the action of the press heats them) and sifted to remove all dust.

7. Storage

8. Packaging

The pellets are packaged in bags or in bulk for specific use.