Pellet stove pit

Pellet prices: an increase similar to that of gas

The price of pellets is now uncontrollable: over € 10 for a 15 kg bag. And unfortunately there is no way out of this crisis on the horizon!

In the last three years, many manufacturing companies have closed their doors, several manufacturers have decided to terminate contracts with their suppliers due to the increase in production and transport costs (which have soared!) and inflation that has invaded the whole of Europe.

To all these factors, already worrying in themselves, has been added the war between Russia and Ukraine, two countries that produce a truly significant amount of pellets. Taking into account that Italy imports 85% of its fuel from abroad, disaster was assured from the beginning of this tragic invasion.

It is now a global issue, involving all stages of production.

Olive pit for pellet stoves: what is it?

The olive pit for pellet stoves is born as a processing waste from the pressing of olives. In other words, pulp, peel and stone. It is not surprising, in fact, that it is used not only as a fuel for heating and electricity generation systems, but also as fertilizer.

In fact, neither adhesives nor chemical solvents are used to obtain the pit: the pit for pellet stoves is to all intents and purposes one of the by-products that can be used in biomass and biogas plants, as suggested by the MiSE decree of 23 June 2016, according to Directive 2009/28/EC.

It is important to underline how it is necessary to prefer the WASHED pit, that is the type of pit from which, with completely natural methods, all those elements harmful to combustion such as pulp, peel and dust have been eliminated.

Difference Between Pellets and Pits

Pellets and pit are very similar to each other.

A good pellet has a calorific value of around 4.5 – 5 kWh/Kg, ash residues less than 1%, a humidity content of less than 10% and, of course, a quality certification.

The olive pit, for its part, has a truly remarkable calorific value (around 6.5/7.4 Kw/Kg) due to its specific weight, much higher than other biomasses, which determines a higher energy production. The humidity is not bad either: it is around 12%. The Achilles heel of this fuel, however, is the percentage of fixed residues, which can be as high as 4%.

Both are light and small products and are therefore easy to pack, transport and distribute. Beyond their intrinsic characteristics (where the pit is disadvantaged only from the point of view of fixed residues), the two fuels do not have many differences.

The virgin olive pomace pit as a plant material produced by the exclusively mechanical processing of agricultural products is a combustible biomass, it is produced in mills thanks to pit separating machines that with a purely mechanical process separate the pit from the virgin olive pomace.

For this reason, there are no chemical impurities and no bad odors are released when burned.

It is also easily distinguishable because of its light color. All these characteristics make it a valuable product.

The olive pit finds its natural use in the supply of boilers for heating, domestic water, fireplace boilers, ovens and all types of multi-fuel boilers with suitable power supply.

Releasing a calorific value of 4,900 Kcal/Kg.

The olive pit: ecological, economical, always available in abundance during the winter period (the processing of olives takes place from October-January) is a fuel that, in addition to having a higher caloric efficiency, significantly reduces the production of fumes and ash, while ensuring a longer life of the boilers and less maintenance of the same.

The real discriminating factor, therefore, is confirmed the price.

Olive pit pellets price: how much does the pit cost for the pellet stove?

Olive stones for pellet stoves are worthwhile. Really. It is a seasonal product that is still little known, with an excellent purchase price during the olive pressing period, between October and January. And Italy is rich in olive groves, a factor that increases the ease of finding this raw material.

A 15 kg bag of hazelnut costs about € 5.5. About 25 € per quintal.

What stoves can burn pit?

All our stoves and thermo-stoves are multi-fuel; They are supplied with a double brazier (pellets and pit) and with double programming from the display: switching from one fuel to another is as simple as pressing a button!

What can be burned instead of pellets?

In addition to the olive pomace pit, there are other alternatives to pellets of wood origin: they are called Agripellets and are by-products of agricultural and agro-industrial origin, pure or mixed:

• GIrasole pellets: a biofuel with great potential, with a moisture percentage of 8% and a calorific value of about 4.5 kW/Kg; The real problem is that it is very difficult to find and that it produces an amount of ash that only the most modern stoves can handle.
• Corn: with its compact and homogeneous grains and excellent heat output, corn pellets could be the best alternative to wood pellets; if it were not so questionable to burn a product intended for food, of course.
• Wood chips: Wood chips are an environmentally friendly and cost-effective biomass fuel that, as such, is a great alternative, both to firewood and fuel types!

What are the advantages of the pit?

Choosing the heating pit offers multiple advantages, from energy saving, to respect for the environment, to economic savings. As a biofuel, pomace kernelsreduce the production of fumes and ash, ensure better operation of stoves and boilers and have a high calorific value, higher than that of pellets.

100% eco-friendly: It does not require tree felling, does not use chemical additives and minimizes fumes and ash.

100% Italian: It is produced from Italian olives in Italian mills with controlled and traced processing.

Less corruptible: Its low humidity reduces the possibility of generating mold and the hard and compact structure makes it stable over time.

Less bulky: Its specific weight and granular shape allow it to take up less volume and facilitate storage.