Traceability of bulk biomass: Application of radio frequency identification technology on a bulk pellet flow

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been used since the 1950s in a wide range of applications. In the energy sector, there is a potential to use the technology to follow biomass fuels throughout a supply chain. In addition to logistic information, the RFID tags can be used to convey vital information of the fuel properties directly to the energy plant to be used at the moment of combustion. A detailed knowledge of the fuel composition at the moment it reaches the furnace can be used to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and limit problems with fouling and slagging. In this work, RFID technology was used in three separate trials to trace wood pellets, from the production site to the furnace. In the trials, RFID tags were added to batches of pellets containing 5% or 100% peat. In this way it was possible to follow the shift in pellet quality from standard pellets (100% wood) to the pellets containing the RFID tags by monitoring the change in flue gas composition. From the results it can be concluded that RFID tags indeed can be used to convey logistic information and thus information of fuel quality parameters throughout a supply chain for wood pellets. However, work on optimization is needed to design the RFID carrier properly to mix well with the pellets as illustrated in a separate trial. Finally, an economic estimate indicates that the marginal cost to implement a RFID system would be less than 1% of the total production cost of wood pellets.