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Sustainable Biomass Partnership

Standard #5: Collection of Data for Energy and Carbon Balance Calculations

Version 0.0

July 2014

SBP Standard #5: Collection Of Data For Energy And Carbon Balance Calculations of 21

Documents included with this Standard:

• Appendix 1. Example summary data reporting sheet.


Table of contents

List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... 4

1 Background ................................................................................................................................ 5

2 Scope ......................................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 General principles .................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Reporting periods .................................................................................................................... 6

3 Normative references ................................................................................................................ 7

4 Glossary of Terms and Definitions ............................................................................................... 7

5 Input materials for wood pellet production: ........................................................................... 10

5.1 Feedstock classification ......................................................................................................... 10

5.2 Data requirements ................................................................................................................. 10

5.3 Form of product when delivered to the pellet plant ............................................................. 11

5.4 Feedstock weight per year ..................................................................................................... 11

5.5 Average moisture content of feedstock deliveries (not compulsory) ................................... 11

5.6 Fuel use for forestry products ............................................................................................... 12

5.7 Fertiliser use (for forest products only) ................................................................................. 12

5.8 Pesticide use (for forest products only .................................................................................. 12

5.9 Diesel (or electricity) used for external (in-forest) chipping (if applicable) ........................... 13

5.10 Diesel for haulage to Pellet Plant ......................................................................................... 13

6 Production of wood pellets ..................................................................................................... 14

6.1 Total annual quantity of raw materials used in the process ................................................. 14

6.2 Average moisture content of raw materials entering the production chain (not compulsory)

..................................................................................................................................................... 14

6.3 Average moisture content at the exit of the dryer (not compulsory) ................................... 14

6.4 Average moisture content of wood pellets produced ........................................................... 15

6.5 Total annual amount of electricity used for production of wood pellets .............................. 15

6.6 Origin of the power used for pellet production..................................................................... 16

6.7 Total annual amount of diesel (or heating oil) used for production ..................................... 16

6.8 Total annual amount of Liquid Propane Gas used for production ........................................ 17

6.9 Total annual amount of natural gas used for production ...................................................... 17

6.10 Any other fossil fuel ............................................................................................................. 18

6.11 Nature and amount of the biomass used in dryer (or CHP) ................................................ 18

6.12 Average moisture content of biomass used in dryer (or CHP) ............................................ 18

6.13 Transport of biomass used in the dryer (or CHP) ................................................................ 19

6.14 CHP efficiency ...................................................................................................................... 19

6.15 Total quantity of annual wood pellet production ................................................................ 19

7 Transportation of wood pellets ............................................................................................... 19

7.1 Truck/train transport ............................................................................................................. 20

8 Wood pellet storage, handling and trans-shipment ................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Appendix 1. Example summary data reporting sheet. .................................................................... 21


List of Abbreviations

BP Biomass Producer

CITES Convention on international Trade in Endangered Species

CoC Chain of Custody

CPET Central Point of Expertise for Timber (run by DEFRA)

DEFRA UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DECC UK Department of Energy and Climate Change

EUTR European Union Timber Regulation

GGL Green Gold Label

FSC Forest Stewardship Council

ILO International Labour Organisation

PEFC Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification

PPE Personal Protective Equipment

RA Risk Assessment

RSB Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials

SBP Sustainable Biomass Partnership

SBE Sustainable Biomass Evaluation

SFI Sustainable Forestry Initiative

SVP Supplier Verification Programme


1 Background

The Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP) was formed in 2013 by major European utilities that

are using biomass, mostly in the form of wood pellets, in large thermal power plants. The SBP

views biomass-fired power and heat generation as a key technology in achieving the EU’s 2020

renewable energy targets and curbing climate change, and requires the use of sustainable and

legally harvested feedstock that avoids potentially detrimental effects on the environment and

social welfare.

SBP’s objective is to develop the tools necessary to ensure that solid biomass, used for

sustainable energy production by its member organisations, complies with regulations on

sustainability and biomass legality in EU countries, and that the sector is recognised as an

exemplar of good practice. The SBP Biomass Assurance Framework is designed as a clear

statement of principles, standards and processes necessary to demonstrate such compliance.

Wherever possible, use is made of robust and credible standards already applied to other forest

product streams and to other sustainable biomass sources.

2 Scope

This document (Standard #5, Collection of Data for Energy and Carbon Balance Calculations)

defines the requirements and options for collecting data to be forwarded through the supply

chain.

2.1 General principles

All data submitted must be supported by appropriate evidence.

The Biomass Producer will not be responsible for calculating the GHG emissions of the supply

chain or for the accurate use of default or reference numbers, but must provide all necessary data

to facilitate those calculations.

There are three ascending tiers, or categories, of data for each reporting item, which are defined

as follows:

- Tier 1: default value defined by this Standard (lowest Tier)

- Tier 2: regional data supported by statistics or literature (middle Tier)

- Tier 3: operator-specific data compiled by an individual BP (highest Tier).

Not all items have values in each of the three tiers. Different methodologies may be available

within one tier (identified as e.g. tier 3A, 3B, 3C), depending on available data. This Standard

defines the minimum tier with which the BP must comply. The BP should use the highest practical

data Tier and will have to justify its choice of Tier to the auditor.


2.2 Reporting periods

The reporting period must be specified. The default period is 12 months, but other reporting

periods can be used in the following circumstances:

• New production unit, with commissioning completed less than 12 months prior to the end

of the chosen reporting period

• Significant technical changes in equipment, implemented less than 12 months prior to the

end of the chosen reporting period

• Significant technical changes in the nature of the raw material, implemented less than 12

months prior to the end of the chosen reporting period

• Change of ownership (including new operating license held by a different operating

company)

• Physical destruction of all or part of the production facilities and/or of data and related

evidence (e.g. fire, flood).

The BP should select a convenient 12-month period for record keeping (e.g. fiscal year, civil year

or any other 12 month period) and will update the data at least every 12 months. Data from a

reference period ending more than 15 months prior to the beginning of an accounting period is

not suitable unless the plant is started again after a prolonged period (greater than 6 months). In

this case, the most recent activity period available must be used.

A maximum offset of 15 days is allowed between the reporting period and the timeframe of any

reported activity data. If, for any of the activity data, the total number of days is not exactly the

same as the reference period and reported activity does not cover exactly 12 months (e.g.

because of the dates of meter reading, or inventory/invoicing periods) an adjustment to 12

months must be performed, using a simple proportional relationship.

Example:

The chosen reference period is the civil year 2013.

If power invoices are available for the period 20 December 2012 to 20 December 2013, they can

be used without any adjustment.

If power invoices are available for the period 27 December 2012 to 20 December 2013, the power

used will need to be adjusted as: x 365 / 358.

Power invoices for the period 12 December 2012 to 12 December 2013 are not acceptable as long

as the civil year 2013 is the reference period. If available, invoices for the period 12 January 1013

to 12 January 2014 will be more appropriate. Alternatively, the reporting period may be changed

so that the available power invoices are consistent.


3 Normative references

SBP Standard #1. Feedstock Compliance

SBP Standard #2: Standard for the verification of SBP compliant feedstock

SBP Standard #3: Certification Systems: Requirements for Certification

SBP Standard #4: Chain of Custody

4 Glossary of Terms and Definitions

Biomass Producer: A legal entity, which gathers and processes biomass feedstock for conversion

into an end product suitable for power generation.

Certification Body: Certification Bodies operate schemes for the SBP, including the assessment of

Supply Base Evaluations, Chain of Custody systems, Energy and Carbon calculations and

certification claims made by organisations.

Controlled Feedstock: This is material that is supplied with a certification claim from an SBP

Approved Controlled Feedstock System.

Mitigation Measures: These are actions taken to control the risk of non-compliance of an

Indicator so that it may be considered to have a Low Risk rating.

Pre-consumer reclaimed material:

This is unintentionally produced material reclaimed from a process of secondary manufacture or

other industry further downstream, which is unfit both for end use and for re-use on-site in the

same manufacturing process that generated it.

Post-consumer reclaimed material

This is material reclaimed from a consumer or commercial product that has been used for its

intended purpose by private, commercial, industrial or institutional end-users.

Primary wood processing: Any processing that transforms roundwood into materials other than

roundwood.

Production plantation forests are forests of exotic species that have been planted or seeded by

human intervention and that are under intensive stand management, are fast growing, and

subject to short rotations (Example: Poplar, acacia or eucalyptus plantations).

Risk Assessment (RA): This is the initial desk review component of the Supply Base Evaluation. It

comprises a desktop study of the supply base against the Principles, Criteria and Indicators of the

SBP Sustainable Feedstock Standard. Each Indicator is given a single rating “Specified Risk”,

“Unspecified Risk”, or “Low Risk”.

SBP-approved Controlled Feedstock Systems: These are currently Forest Stewardship Council

(FSC) Controlled Wood and Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Controlled

Sources.

SBP-approved Forest Management Schemes: These are currently FSC and PEFC endorsed Forest

Management Schemes.

SBP-compliant Primary Feedstock: All Principles, Criteria and indicators must be met by the BP in

order for primary feedstock to be considered as SBP-compliant primary feedstock, unless such

primary feedstock is supplied within the scope of an SBP- approved Forest Management Scheme.


SBP-compliant Secondary Feedstock: This material is received as residue from primary wood

processing. If such material does not fall within the scope of an SBP-approved Controlled

Feedstock System, the inputs to the primary wood processor must be supplied from forest

holdings within the Scope of the Supply Base Evaluation, and all Principles, Criteria and Indicators

must be met by the BP, in order for the Secondary Feedstock to be considered as SBP-Compliant.

Secondary wood processing: Any processing that transforms the products of a Primary wood

processor.

SBP-approved Chain of Custody (CoC) Systems: These are currently the Forest Stewardship

Council (FSC), Green Gold Label (GGL), Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

and Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) Chain of Custody systems.

SBP Biomass Products Groups:

(a) SBP-compliant Biomass: This material may carry an SBP-compliant Biomass claim and is

received from an organisation with SBP certification.

(b) SBP non-compliant Biomass: This material must not be mixed with any output carrying

an SBP claim.

(c) EUTR-compliant Biomass: This material can be mixed with any output carrying an SBP

Sustainable Biomass claim.

SBP Feedstock Product Groups:

(a) Controlled Feedstock

(b) SBP-compliant Primary Feedstock

(c) SBP-compliant Secondary Feedstock

(d) SBP-compliant Tertiary Feedstock

(e) SBP non-compliant Feedstock

Scope: The scope of the Supply Base Evaluation is the area that includes all places where

feedstock was harvested from, i.e. the location of the tree stump.

Service providers: These are entities in the SBP supply chain, which do not take legal ownership

of the Biomass (e.g. transport companies, storage platforms). As they do not take legal

ownership, they are not required to be CoC-certified.

Sub-scope: The scope of the SBE may be divided into sub-scopes within which all Indicators must

have the same risk rating. The sub-scope can be defined using geographical area or other

parameters: examples include type of harvesting operation or tree species. The sub-scope need

not be a contiguous geographical area.

Supplier Verification Programme (SVP): This involves further evaluation of SBP Sustainable

Feedstock Standard Indicators determined as ‘Unspecified Risk’ during the Risk Assessment. At

the end of the SVP process, all Indicators will have been ranked as either ‘Specified Risk’ or ‘Low

Risk’.

Supply Base Evaluation (SBE): This is the process whereby BPs validate feedstock by

implementing the Principles, Criteria and Indicators of the Feedstock Compliance Standard

(Standard # 1). The process comprises the Risk Assessment and the Supplier Verification

Programme.


SBP-compliant Tertiary Feedstock: This is either pre-consumer or post-consumer material:

(a) Pre-consumer Tertiary Feedstock: This material comprises residue from secondary

wood processing and must meet the requirements for SBP-compliant Secondary

Feedstock. It must also be supplied EITHER within the scope of an SBP-approved Forest

Management Scheme OR originate from forest holdings within the scope of an SBP Supply

Base Evaluation.

(b) Post-consumer Tertiary Feedstock: This material must meet the specification for post-

consumer tertiary feedstock.


5 Input materials for wood pellet production:

5.1 Feedstock classification

The BP must use a summary data reporting sheet, similar to the example in Appendix 11, which

enables calculation of the Greenhouse Gas emissions of the relevant part of the biomass supply

chain, for each feedstock classification, as shown in the table below:

• Arboricultural arisings

• Bark (timber processing residue)

• Branches, tops and bark (forest residue)

• Diseased wood and storm salvage

• End of life timber

• Invasive species clearance

• Long rotation forestry (broadleaf)

• Long rotation forestry (conifer)

• Saw dust (timber processing residue)

• Saw mill residue (timber processing residue)

• Slab wood.

BPs must implement a Supply Base Evaluation (SBE) to verify compliance of their management

system with the Principles, Criteria and Indicators of the SBP Feedstock Compliance Standard

(Standard # 1).

The following types of feedstock may be excluded from the Supply Base Evaluation:

• Feedstock supplied with an SBP-approved Forest Management Scheme claim

• Feedstock supplied with an SBP-approved Controlled Feedstock System claim

• Feedstock supplied within the scope of the BP’s own SBP-approved Controlled Feedstock

System.

• Post-consumer Tertiary feedstock.

In other situations, the SBE must cover all areas from which all Feedstock categorised as SBP-

compliant is harvested.

5.2 Data requirements Data relating to individual feedstock suppliers is not required on the summary sheet, but must be

made available to the auditor during the certification audit in order to verify the feedstock totals

provided.

1 This is given in the form of a separate Excel spreadsheet


On the Excel summary sheet, the total amount of energy or chemicals used for each individual

feedstock classification must be divided by the total number of tonnes, to provide an average

amount per tonne.

5.3 Form of product when delivered to the pellet plant The BP must identify the form in which feedstock enters the plant, from the following categories:

• Logs

• Chips

• Sawmill residues

• Bark

• Other (specify)

5.4 Feedstock weight per year The BP must calculate the total weight of all raw materials, related to each fuel classification,

delivered to the production site during the reference period. If part of this raw material is

diverted from the production process to be used internally as fuel, this must be measured

separately.

Tier 3A: Input material delivered by truck is quantified by weighbridge readings. The weighbridge

entries are recorded in a database and must include, as a minimum, the supplier’s name, nature

of the material, date and weight.

Tier 3B: Input material transported to site by pipe or conveyor belt (continuous delivery) from a

neighbouring location is quantified by in-line measuring devices and/or from invoices raised by

the raw material supplier.

In either case, the total amount material per year (and per supplier) can be calculated from these

records.

5.5 Average moisture content of feedstock deliveries (not compulsory) When raw material is roundwood, no measurement of moisture is possible, but the moisture

content after the logs are debarked and processed to chips can be reported:

Tier 3A: There are occasional measurements of moisture content. An approximate average value

can be provided per category of feedstock.

Tier 3B: There is one measurement of moisture content for each delivery or batch of raw material

(truck deliveries) and/or regular measurement for continuous delivery of raw material

(continuous delivery). All the measurements are recorded in a database. A weighted average is

computed.


5.6 Fuel use for forestry products The BP must calculate the total energy used for soil preparation, planting, forest management

methods (such as short rotation forestry) and harvesting of forest products. The energy used in

chipping (if applicable) is reported separately.

As energy use in forestry is difficult to monitor, Tier 1 or 2 can be used.

Tier 3: All fuel used during the forest rotation period must be reported, and divided by the total

amount of wood harvested (litre fuel / t wood).

Tier 2: Average data based on statistics for the relevant region can be used.

Tier 1: The default value is 1.67 litre diesel/t wood (Biograce data).

5.7 Fertiliser use (for forest products only) The BP must provide the necessary data to calculate the energy embedded in the fertiliser used

for forest products.

Tier 3: The total amount of fertiliser applied to the relevant area during the rotation period must

to be reported in kg fertiliser/t harvested wood (taking into account the total amount of wood

harvested during the rotation period). Each type of fertiliser must be reported separately, e.g. N,

P2O5 and K2O. It is not necessary to report other types of fertiliser and other components of

fertilisers.

Tier 2: Not available

Tier 1: Fertiliser is rarely used in forestry, except in short rotation systems. In traditional forestry,

the default will be 0. In short rotation systems, Biograce values can be used.

5.8 Pesticide use (for forest products only The BP must provide the necessary data to calculate the energy embedded in pesticides used on

forest products.

Tier 3: The pesticide used in the forest throughout the reporting period must be reported in kg

active substance/t harvested wood (taking into account the total amount of wood harvested

during the rotation period). The concentration of the active substance must be taken into account

in the calculation.


Tier 1: The default value (Biograce) is: 0.07654 kg/t wood. (This value has been established for

short rotation systems but can also be applied to traditional forestry.)


5.9 Diesel (or electricity) used for external (in-forest) chipping (if applicable) The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the energy used to chip forest products or

forest residues. This is reported in litre diesel/t chips (or in kWH/t chips in the case of electricity).

Tier 3: The operator may calculate the specific energy use for chipping through field tests (of at

least one day) or throughout the year.


Tier 1: The default value is 0.524 litre diesel /t chips (Biograce)

5.10 Diesel for haulage to Pellet Plant The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the energy used to haul forest products or

residues to the processing plant. This is reported in litres of diesel/t feedstock.

Tier 3A: The amount of diesel used is estimated using a fuel efficiency factor, which has been

specifically calculated for the types of vehicles used on the relevant travel route. Unladen return

journeys are taken into account (unless demonstrably not applicable). All details of fuel

monitoring are recorded and available for inspection.

Tier 3B: The amount of diesel used is monitored and can be demonstrated based on actual fuel

records (tank level and uplifts) along the relevant travel route with vehicles of the relevant fleet.

Unladen return journeys are taken into account (unless demonstrably not applicable).

Tier 2: The amount of diesel used by the trucks is not monitored, but their fuel consumption is

calculated using fuel efficiency factors retrieved from recent publication for the relevant region.

Tier 1: A conservative default fuel efficiency is used for Standard trucks (40 tons) loaded with

chips (Biograce): 0.97 MJ / t km = 0.026985 litre diesel / t km (these include unladen return

journeys).

All three Tiers are acceptable for use by BPs.

For all Tiers: the average travel distance and load of the trucks must be reported.

If blending of biodiesel is compulsory in the relevant region, or is systematically used by the

haulage company on the defined route, the share of biofuel can be reported separately.

The energy used to transfer any residues from a sawmill by a conveying system (such as a pipeline

or conveyor belt) is considered to be part of normal sawmill operations and does not need to be

reported in this framework. The operator must, however, define for which category of feedstock

a conveying system is used.


6 Production of wood pellets

6.1 Total annual quantity of raw materials used in the process The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the total quantity of fuel of each

classification entering the processing plant.

Tier 3B: Where facilities have a direct measurement of the raw material entering the production

chain, with a batch metering system, the total of the recorded raw material input can be

aggregated throughout the reporting period.

Tier 3A: The amount of raw material entering the supply chain is estimated from the total amount

of raw material purchased minus the estimated stock change.

6.2 Average moisture content of raw materials entering the production chain

(not compulsory) Moisture content of the raw material entering the supply chain may differ from the moisture

content recorded at the gate, as moisture content can vary during storage. When the raw

material is roundwood, the initial moisture can be measured after the logs are debarked and

processed to chips.

Tier 3C: There is continuous measurement of the moisture at the start of the production chain. An

annual average must be produced.

Tier 3B: There are regular measurements of moisture at the start of the production chain. An

annual average must be produced.

Tier 3A: There are occasional moisture measurements at the start of the production chain, from

which an estimate of the average moisture content can be calculated. The moisture content can

be reported as a weighted average throughout all categories of raw materials or as an average for

each type of raw material.

6.3 Average moisture content at the exit of the dryer (not compulsory) If the moisture content at the exit of the dryer is monitored, it must be reported.

Tier 3C: There is continuous measurement of the moisture at the exit of the dryer. An annual

average is produced.

Tier 3B: There are regular measurements of moisture at the exit of the dryer. An annual average is

produced.

Tier 3A: There are occasional moisture measurements of moisture at the exit of the dryer, from

which an estimate of the average can be calculated.


6.4 Average moisture content of wood pellets produced The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the average moisture content of the

processed feedstock leaving the plant.

Tier 3C: There is continuous measurement of the moisture of the pellets. An annual average must

be produced.

Tier 3B: There are regular measurements of moisture of the pellets. An annual average must be

produced.

Tier 3A: There are occasional moisture measurements of moisture of the pellets, from which an

estimate of the average can be calculated.

6.5 Total annual amount of electricity used for production of wood pellets The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the electricity used to produce the wood

pellets. Tier 3 must be used and the electricity used for pellet production must be reported in

kWH/t pellets.

The power consumption of ancillary facilities (e.g. offices, cafeterias, workshops, site lighting,

laboratories) may be excluded from the total if the appropriate metering is in place.

Tier 3C: The electricity used by the pellet plant is from an external supplier. The amount of

electricity used during the reference period is based on invoices from the supplier.

Tier 3B: The electricity used by the pellet plant is from an external supplier. The meter(s) used for

invoicing purposes covers not only the pellet production process (possibly including related

facilities), but also other process lines (e.g. sawmill or other production facilities).

If additional (internal) meters are available, then internal meter readings performed at the

beginning and at the end of the reporting period can be used to determine the share of the

invoiced power to be allocated to pellet production.

If such additional meters are not available, then a theoretical approach can be used to allocate

the power to the different uses. This approach can be based on:

• Installed power of the machinery within the different chains,

• Number of operating hours of the different production chains,

• Meter readings for a period during which one of the production chain was idle.

Tier 3A: Electricity for the plant is internally produced. Specific meters may be available to

determine:

• How much power is produced (P)

• How much power is internally used for the power production auxiliaries (A)

• How much power is exported to the grid or to other external users (EG)

• How much power is imported from outside (I)

• How much power is used for internal pellet production (PP)


• How much power is used in other internal production lines (OP).

Power used in pellet production is therefore given by the formula: PP = P+I-A-EG-OP

Tier 1: This is only allowed for new production units (where no historical data records are

available) and not as a substitute for poor record keeping of power consumption. The following

default values from Biograce II can be used:

6.6 Origin of the power used for pellet production The BP must identify the origin of the electricity used to produce the wood pellets.

There are three possibilities:

1) Power from the grid (%G)

2) Power from a neighbouring external supplier but not through the grid (%X) (specify technology)

3) Power from own production (specify technology) (%O).

A percentage is given for each of the three categories, such that %O+%X+%G=100%

In cases where there is a mix of power from internal sources and power from the grid, then the

percentage of power from the internal source is determined as follows:

If a meter(s) measures directly or indirectly how much internal power is used specifically

for pellet production (including ancillary facilities) this meter must be used to determine

the percentage of power from internal sources.

If such a meter(s) is not available, the proportion of power from internal sources used for

the pellet process will be considered to be the same as in the entire facility:

%O = (P-A-EG) / (P-A-EG+I) = (P-A-EG) / (PP+OP) where:

P =kWH power produced

A=kWH power internally used for the power production auxiliaries

EG=kWH power exported to the grid or to other external users

I=kWH power imported from outside

PP=kWH power used for internal pellet production

OP=kWH power used in other internal production lines

PP = P+I-A-EG-OP

6.7 Total annual amount of diesel (or heating oil) used for production The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the amount of diesel or other fuel oil used by

vehicles and/or machinery in litres/year.

Product MJpower/MJpellets kWH/t

Pellets from sawmill residues 0.0280 128.3

Pellets from chips or chipped roundwood (if

(If chipping not included) 0.0499 229.2


Tier 3D: There is a diesel tank on site used exclusively for the purpose of wood pellet production.

All deliveries throughout the year have been recorded. The level of the tank at the beginning and

at the end of the reference period is known. The reported amount of diesel is the sum of all

deliveries plus initial contents of the tank, minus final contents of the tank.

Tier 3C: There is a diesel tank on site used exclusively for the purpose of wood pellet production.

All deliveries throughout the year have been recorded. The level of the tank at the beginning and

at the end of the reference period is unknown. The reported amount of diesel is the sum of all

deliveries.

Tier 3B: There is a diesel tank on site but it is not dedicated to pellet production. Some

vehicles/machinery unrelated to the pellet production also use diesel from the same tank. Log

books, electronic code/card systems or other systems are in place to allocate fuel to vehicles or

machinery.

Tier 3A: The diesel tank is shared, without the possibility of recording allocation to different

processes, or the diesel used on site is delivered by a subcontractor without the possibility for the

pellet plant to record fuel use or to access invoices. The specific (hourly) fuel consumption of the

machinery used is known (demonstrated by technical specifications) and the number of operating

hours is known (based on the work schedule and/or data loggers installed on machinery). The

annual consumption is calculated accordingly.

Tier 1: Where there are no data on diesel use (or for new pellet plant where no records are

available), relevant default data are:

Handling: 1.5 litres / t pellets

Chipping logs: 2.5 litres / t pellets.

In some cases, the diesel used on site may be the total of different components, each of them

calculated using a different tier.

6.8 Total annual amount of Liquid Propane Gas used for production The BP must provide the data necessary to report the amount of propane (or similar fuel gas)

used by machinery and/or vehicles to produce wood pellets (in litres/year).

Tier 3B: There is a fixed propane tank on site or individual propane bottles. Consumption

throughout the reference period is based on the sum of all tank refill or bottle purchases.

Tier 3A: The propane is not used exclusively for pellet production. The amount of propane used is

calculated by multiplying hourly consumption of the equipment by operating hours, or

alternatively through a justified mechanism for allocation of the total amount of propane

purchased to different uses.

6.9 Total annual amount of natural gas used for production The BP must provide the data necessary to report the amount of natural gas used by machinery

and/or vehicles to produce the wood pellets (in kWH/year, (in terms of Lower Heating Value).


Tier 3B: The natural gas is for the use in pellet production only, and is invoiced in kWH by the

supplier. The total invoiced amount per year is reported.

Tier 3A: The natural gas as invoiced by the supplier is not used exclusively for pellet production.

The amount of natural gas used is calculated by multiplying hourly consumption of the equipment

by operating hours, or alternatively through a justified mechanism for allocation of the total

amount of propane purchased to different uses.

The conversion factor, Higher Heating Value/Lower Heating Value (HHV/LHV) ratio, for natural gas

is 1.1. This factor has to be used when natural gas is invoiced/monitored in HHV and has to be

converted into LHV for the purpose of this reporting.

6.10 Any other fossil fuel The BP must provide the data necessary to report the amount of any other fossil fuel used by

machinery and/or vehicles to produce the wood pellets (in kg or litres per year). The amount

reported must be based on supplier invoices or other appropriate evidence.

6.11 Nature and amount of the biomass used in dryer (or CHP) The BP must describe the biomass used in the process based on the categories identified in 1.1.

The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the total quantity of feedstock of each

classification entering the biomass dryer.

Tier 3B: The biomass to be used specifically as fuel in the dryer (or in the CHP) is shipped

separately, stored separately and recorded separately. Each delivery is recorded (with details

including: weight, supplier name, date, nature). Each type of biomass fuel is reported as the total

of all deliveries throughout the year.

Tier 3A: The biomass to be used as fuel in the dryer is diverted from the pelletizing process at

some stage (debarking, milling, sieving, etc). This biomass has to be reported separately. The total

amount of each material stream throughout the reference period is measured.

Part of the biomass fuel for the boiler can be specifically sourced (tier 3B) and another part

derived from the process (tier 3A).

6.12 Average moisture content of biomass used in dryer (or CHP) Each category of biomass fuel using tier 3B in 2.12 has to be reported, unless a weighted average

at the entrance of the furnace is demonstrated using tier 3C, in which case one figure is sufficient.

The biomass fuel reported using tier 3A in 2.12 (above) does not need to be described here.

Tier 3C: There is a continuous measurement of the moisture of the biomass fuel at the entrance

of the furnace. An annual average must be produced.

Tier 3B: There is measurement of moisture of the biomass fuel for each delivery of biomass fuel. A

weighted annual average must be produced.


Tier 3A: There are occasional moisture measurements of the biomass fuel. An estimate of the

average can be provided as a guide, based on those occasional measurements, for each category

of biomass fuel.

It is possible for different tiers to be used for different categories of biomass fuel.

6.13 Transport of biomass used in the dryer (or CHP) Each category of biomass fuel using tier 3B has to be considered here. The biomass fuel reported

using tier 3A does not need to be described here.

The following items must be reported:

a) Distance (from a fixed location) or estimated average distance from variable location

b) Mode of transport (truck, rail, ship, conveyor system etc.).

6.14 CHP efficiency If the heat used for the drying process is from a biomass CHP and not from a simple furnace, the

following data must be reported:

• Net power production of the CHP (kWH/year)

• Heat valorization in the pellet line dryers

• Heat valorization for any other purpose (industrial process, district heating etc.).

6.15 Total quantity of annual wood pellet production The BP must provide the data necessary to calculate the total quantity of biomass (pellets) leaving

the processing plant.

Tier 3: The quantity of pellets produced during the reference period must be monitored by the

pellet producer at the plant gate (weighbridge) and/or at the end of the production chain. If the

production amount is based on the quantity of pellets leaving the plant, then any significant stock

variation between the beginning and the end of the production period must be taken into

account.

Production logs are the primary information records for this quantity. Sales figures and transport

documents can be used for verification, and they must be consistent with the production volume

(including adjustments reflecting any stock variation).

7 Transportation of wood pellets

Each applicable transport step within the BP’s scope of certification must be described. Places of

departure and place of arrival are required for each transportation step. Some transport modes

may need to be reported more than once along the supply chain.


7.1 Truck/train transport

The BP must provide the data necessary to enable the calculation and subsequent verification of

energy consumption during transport of pellets and the transport mode of that travel (i.e. truck,

diesel or electric train, river barge or ship).

Tier 3B: The amount of diesel/electricity used is monitored using actual fuel records (e.g. tank

level and uplifts) along the relevant travel route with the mode of transport actually used.

Unladen return journeys are taken into account (if applicable). Diesel use is reported in MJ/t

pellets.

Tier 3A: The BP reports the distance travelled to enable the use of fuel efficiency factors,

applicable to the mode of transport used on the relevant travel route. Unladen return journeys

are taken into account (unless demonstrably not applicable). The diesel use is reported in MJ/t

pellets.

Tier 1: The BP reports the distance travelled to enable the use of default fuel efficiency factors for

the relevant region or ship type.

For all Tiers:

If blending of biodiesel is compulsory in the relevant region or is systematically used by the

haulage/shipping company on the defined route, the share of biofuel can be reported separately.

The average load of the trucks/trains must be reported.

The category of the ship used must be made available (e.g. Panamax, Coaster).

Distances between harbours are calculated using the following on-line distance calculator: AXS

Marine (http://www.axsmarine.com/distance/).

7.1 Wood pellet storage, handling and trans-shipment

The fuel and power used at the different storage, handling and transshipment locations must be

reported. Energy usage includes that from e.g. vehicles, fans and conveying, loading or stacking

systems. Diesel use is reported in litres/t pellet, electricity use in kWH/t pellet.

Tier 3B: A yearly overview of the quantity of pellets handled by the facilities involved must be

made available, as well as the annual fuel and/or power use of those facilities. Supporting

material must include: fuel invoices, power invoices, meter readings and fuel logbooks. The

operator must calculate the specific consumption during a reference period.

Tier 3B: A yearly overview of the consumption is not available. In this case, the operator must

report hourly fuel/power use of the equipment involved and the relevant operating hours.


Appendix 1. Example summary data reporting sheet.

This is given in the form of a separate Excel spreadsheet.

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