FUEL PRODUCTION

The production of wood fuel involves a number of stages from extraction in the forest, drying, chipping and transport to the boiler house.


Harvesting Site     Photo: ODPM


Stacked Timber     Photo: ODPM

Extraction

The wood chip for the Kielder boiler is sourced from currently unutilised forest residues from the forestry operations in Kielder forest. These can include:

  • small roundwood, i.e. small stems cleaned of side branches with a top diameter     greater than 7cm

  • poor quality final crops - though large enough to be used for timber these are of     such poor form that they are normally left on site or they may currently be cut     for firewood

Watch the timber being harvested


Wood Chip Store     Photo: ODPM


Delivery Trailer     Photo: ODPM

Drying & Chipping

The timber extracted is then stacked and covered in the Kielder quarry for around 12 months to air-dry and reduce the moisture content. Once at a moisture content of between 20-30%, the timber is chipped into the chip store as available fuel for the boiler. The main fuel store can hold up to 450 cubic meters (between 80-120 tonnes) of wood chip from Kielder Forest.

See the chipper in action

Transport

The woodchip delivery trailer holds about 16 cubic metres (2 to 3 tonnes) of fuel, and has a "push off" action to empty the chips into the boiler house fuel store.

See the woodchip delivered