This week, the six-monthly 100 camini, a magazine that is entirely dedicated to stove and fireplace novelties, arrived at our company. It was nice (and gratifying, considering the work carried out by this office!) to see our company mentioned in many topics covered by the various columns.
In particular, I would like to share with you the interview with Mr. Ruben Palazzetti, Managing Director of our Company.  Lots of interest has been expressed for this topic, especially at this particular moment in time.  Happy reading and see you soon!

THE FUTURE OF PELLETS

What is the pellet market trend at the moment?
This type of market is now stable after a peak reached in 2005: previews for this winter indicate an increase in consumptions. It is clear that the quantity of pellets sold does not only depend on the price but also on the winter climate. At the moment, the price is stable at 2004 levels. In recent years, information about the product has become more wide-spread and, consequently, it is now possible to purchase pellets that often have a superior quality compared to the past at the old price.  

What is the heat value of pellets?
The heat value of good quality pellets is 4.9 kWh/kg.  

How long can pellets be stored for?
Pellets can be stored in a dry place until the next season.  

How can good pellet quality be recognised?
From the point of view of regulations, UNI has published the UNI/TS 11263:2007 standard that provides univocal and clear principles to easily distinguish pellets for energy production purposes while keeping in mind technical, economical and environmental aspects. Nevertheless, there are some approval marks that define pellet quality and that subject the producer to constant controls in the course of time:  all this is a guarantee of quality for the consumer. A very well-known standard throughout Europe, including Italy, is DIN Plus. In any case, a good product will have a low ash residue indicated on the bag (ideally less than 0.8%).

Does a pellet stove require an intake of air from outdoors?
From the point of view of regulations, a pellet stove, just like all combustion devices, must have the possibility of modifying the air of the room it is installed in to avoid consuming all the oxygen contained in it.  The quantity of air required is very small: it is more or less equivalent to the amount of air that enters a room when the door is opened to walk in or out of it! It is also possible to connect the stove directly to the outside but, at the moment, this is not mandatory.

Can it be installed in any room of the home?
The stove and fireplace installation standard (that also applies to pellet stoves) is UNI 10683 and it prohibits installation in rooms containing gas appliances that are not gas tight. Installation is also prohibited in kitchens with fans or extractors that may create a vacuum in the room.  

How efficient is a pellet stove and how much fuel does it burn in one season?
Its efficiency can vary from 85 to 94% depending on the model. It isn’t easy to talk about quantities because it all depends on:

• ·the size of the home (heating 70 m2 is not the same as heating 140 m2),
• ·the degree of insulation from outdoors (whether the home is well insulated or not),
• ·the climate (the energy requirements of a home in Sicily is a lot different from that of a home in South Tyrol)  

Nevertheless, we can give an average indication of about 1 kg/h.  

Is there a standard that can be used as a guideline?
For pellet stoves there are two guideline standards. UNI EN 14785 certifies appliances for as much as regards their performances (efficiencies, emissions) and their safety both from a mechanical and an electrical viewpoint. The standard is obligatory and authorises the CE mark to be displayed on the stove. UNI 10683 for installation.

Final considerations on the future of pellets
The signs of an upswing are clearly visible. Forecasts for the future see a stability in pellet prices that keep them around current ones, also thanks to the increase in the offer of this product on the market and this also makes it possible to ensure a constant quality in the course of time.