Executive Summary: Techno-economic analysis for mobile pelletising plant

Summary of Project and Key Findings:
This report evaluates the feasibility of a mobile wood pelletising plant in New Zealand’s Nelson-Tasman-Marlborough region, focusing on two primary sources of biomass—harvest residues and processing residues—and comparing fixed versus mobile plant configurations. Processing residues are more cost-effective due to their centralised location and lower moisture content, making them an ideal initial feedstock. In the techno-economic analysis of a 10,000-tonne-per-year operation, a fixed plant offered significantly higher profitability, with an annual net income of $137,200 and a 34.3% ROCE, primarily due to its reliance on cheaper grid electricity; meanwhile, the mobile plant’s dependence on diesel generators limited its annual net income to $12,268 and a 2.3% ROCE. Capital costs for both configurations totalled $435,084, highlighting the importance of careful investment strategies, particularly around equipment choices and location. Overall, the findings indicate that a fixed pelletising facility located near centralised processing residues—such as in the Richmond-Brightwater area—is the most promising path, with future considerations including a gradual incorporation of harvest residues and potential exploration of semi-mobile options.

TRL at start of project = 1
TRL at end of project = 2