Ukrainian farmers find off-spec grain cheaper than wood pellets for crop drying

High wood pellet prices are prompting Ukrainian farmers to consider using off-spec or damaged grain and grain-cleaning residues to fuel crop dryers. Wood pellets currently cost UAH 9,000–18,000/t in Ukraine, significantly more than feed wheat and corn.

Some Ukrainian agricultural companies already use grain residues as an alternative fuel. The Hanze Agri grain elevator in Sumy region has used corn-cleaning waste for crop drying, while Kernel is also considering this option.

Sunflower seed has the highest calorific value among the main crops at around 24 MJ/kg, while sunflower husks generate 16.5–18 MJ/kg. The figure reaches 15 MJ/kg for corn, 14.4 MJ/kg for barley and 14.2 MJ/kg for wheat.

According to calculations by Ukravit founder Vitaliy Ilchenko, assuming 80% boiler efficiency, useful heat costs around UAH 1.9/kWh when generated from wheat or barley, UAH 2.1/kWh from corn and UAH 2.8/kWh from sunflower seed. The comparable cost for wood pellets can reach UAH 4.5/kWh.

Feed-grade or off-spec grain can therefore generate useful heat at less than half the cost of wood pellets. However, the approach is primarily considered suitable for crops that cannot be sold for food use, damaged grain and cleaning residues rather than marketable food-grade grain.

Tags: grain, grain drying