Depending on moisture levels, wood has an energy content of 5,000 to 8,600 Btu/pound. Coal has an energy content of 12,800 Btu/pound. Thus, coal is more efficient per pound of fuel. Both wood and coal are burned in the boiler at about the same temperature, and therefore have similar thermal efficiencies. Efficiency is dependent on the type and size of system that a power plant uses. Since wood-fired power plants are generally smaller than power plants that use fossil fuels there is a lower efficiency in their operation. The volume to surface area ratio of the furnace is larger for small power plants, which allows more heat to be lost, reducing efficiency. However, smaller plants can offset this heat loss by including the use of combined heat and power (or cogeneration) in the energy system. In other words, heat that is otherwise lost is recovered and used for other applications. This FAQ was adapted from Wood to Energy and used with permission.

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