Wood Innovations (Wood Products Markets, Wood Energy, Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovations Program, and Wood Education and Resource Center)
Purchase and Development of an Integrated Biomass Platform that Converts Biomass into Renewable Energy and Biochar to Provide a Heat Source for Dry Kiln Humidifiers Used for CLT/Mass Timber Production
Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program (CWEWIP)
Kretz Lumber Company, Inc.
W11143 County Highway G,
P.O. Box 160
Antigo, WI 54409
800-352-1438 https://www.kretzlumber.com/
Vaagen Timbers will use this grant to install an Ag Energy Integrated Biomass Unit and dry kilns to specifically dry lumber that has already been processed from USFS forest restoration projects. This will allow the mass timber facility to add value to lower value wood by products like shavings and sawdust while creating heat and energy to dry lumber. This is critically important to create consistent adhesion and lumber stability once the mass timber is created. We will determine the best way to take the standard kiln-dry, heat-treated lumber that is common in the lumber industry and take it from 19% moisture content or less, to a moisture content of 10% to 12% moisture content. This will vastly improve the potential widespread use of small diameter logs from the Forest Service if successful, as more lumber would be suited for products like Cross Laminated Timber, Glue Laminated Beams, and Glue Laminated Timber panels.
o Determine the best final drying process
• Engineer Ag Energy unit to heat the kilns
• Develop wood waste storage and delivery system to the unit
• Type of kiln
• Heat source
o Engineering - engineering design for kiln(s) size, output, and flow
o Apply for necessary permits
o Get permits for site and ecology approved
CWEWIP, biomass, biochar, CLT, mass timber, wood energy
