2006-Ongoing
Due to innovation and switchgrass establishment success, Virginia Tech and Conservation Management Institute asked FDCE for help in converting the feedstock for Piedmont Geriatric Hospital’s (PGH) biomass boiler to native switchgrass. Prior to this effort, PGH relied primarily on sawdust as their boiler feedstock. While the sawdust was sourced from local mills, as much as half of it was made up of water, significantly hindering efficiency and increasing costs.
By comparison, switchgrass feedstock averages less than 15% water. During a 44-day run of exclusively burning switchgrass, the hospital saved almost $44,000 compared to burning sawdust. A year later, they saved nearly $100,000 during a 50-day run. Now burning switchgrass biomass year-round, the hospital saves anywhere from $1,800-$2,200 per day on fuel costs. Learn more.