When fibre is stored in piles, self-heating and combustion can occur over time. The smouldering can continue for months, and can produce caverns that collapse when
weight is put on the pile. These gaps are like a furnace and can reach extreme temperatures.
The Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group (BBRG) is a world-class research group of engineers and scientists based at the University of British Columbia. This factsheet provides the latest information based on the centre’s research related to best practices on the safe handling and storage of pellets, part of a four-year research project involving WPAC, the BC Forest Safety Council and BioFuelNet Canada, and funded through the federal Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
You can read more about this ground breaking work in an interview with Canadian Biomass Magazine and Dr. Shahab Sokhansanj who led this work.