Drying Wood Chips for Biomass Energy

The Challenge

Equidomus, a Welsh forestry and biomass company, faced a common industry challenge: their freshly harvested wood chips contained moisture levels of 50-55%, making them unsuitable for premium biomass fuel markets that demand consistent moisture content below 25%.

High moisture content meant reduced calorific value per tonne, increased transport costs (moving water rather than fuel), and rejection by quality-conscious customers operating modern biomass boilers. The company needed a reliable, efficient drying solution to transform their raw material into a premium product.

The Solution

After evaluating several drying technologies, Equidomus selected the FlowDrya FD60 continuous belt dryer. The decision was driven by several factors:

• Low-temperature operation: The FlowDrya uses gentle drying air at 80-110°C, eliminating fire risks associated with high-temperature drum dryers
• Consistent output: The belt system ensures even drying across the full width, producing uniform moisture content throughout the batch
• Flexible throughput: Belt speed and bed depth can be adjusted to match varying input moisture levels and production demands
• Heat source compatibility: The system integrates seamlessly with their existing biomass boiler, using waste heat to minimise operating costs

Fresh wood chips being loaded onto the FlowDrya drying belt

The Results

Since installation, the FlowDrya FD60 has consistently delivered dried wood chips at 18% moisture content, well within the M20 specification required by their district heating customers. Key outcomes include:

The ability to produce certified premium fuel has opened access to higher-paying markets, significantly improving revenue per tonne of processed material. Transport costs have also reduced substantially, as dried chips contain far less water weight.

Heat Source Integration

A key factor in the project’s economic success is the integration with Equidomus’s existing biomass boiler. The FlowDrya’s air handling system draws heated air from the boiler’s heat exchanger, using energy that would otherwise be partially wasted.

This arrangement delivers two benefits: it maximises the utilisation of their on-site heat generation, and it keeps drying costs significantly lower than systems requiring dedicated fuel input. The result is a highly efficient closed-loop operation where a portion of the dried product fuels the drying of incoming wet material.

Premium dried wood chips ready for delivery to biomass energy customers

Customer Feedback

“The FlowDrya has transformed our business. We’re now supplying premium dried fuel to customers who previously wouldn’t consider our wet chip. The quality is consistent, the system is reliable, and the operating costs are minimal because we’re using our own waste heat.”

— Operations Manager, Equidomus Ltd

Technical Specifications