Shavings Operation Telfair Forest Products Eyes Torrefaction Facility

Telfair Forest Products announced it is constructing a torrefaction facility at its operations in Lumber City, Ga. Telfair will implement biomass torrefaction technology from TSI.

Telfair Forest Products is a manufacturer of premium quality southern yellow pine wood shavings.

A TSI-designed and fabricated torreactor will be paired with Telfair’s logistics for the torrefaction and densification of biomass to provide commercial demonstration samples for industrial users. Torrefaction, thermal treatment of biomass in a low-oxygen environment, enables the use of ordinary biomass like wood residuals and agricultural waste.

In addition to promoting new applications for sustainable biomass, the project also enjoys the support of state government for its contribution to the local community.

“For years now, Telfair Forest Products has worked with Telfair County and Lumber City community to enhance and breathe new life into a former industrial site on the Ocmulgee River,” says Senator Blake Tillery. “I am glad to see their work with the local leaders will continue with today’s announcement and the investment of $7.6 million dollars.”

The project is expected to bring 15 new and retained jobs for Lumber City and Telfair County with the development of a small torrefaction unit.

“For years, the industry has struggled with the chicken or the egg problem, where industrial users need large samples to demonstrate commercial readiness to build large production facilities, but without large facilities, production of large samples has been impossible,” comments TSI CEO Benny Teal. “We intend to solve that problem. The combination of a skilled workforce, abundance of sustainable wood, and supportive government makes Georgia, and Telfair’s Lumber City mill, the ideal location for the birthplace of the next generation of sustainable biomass products.”

The new facility will have a capacity of more than 15,000 tons per year, and designed to handle a wide range of temperatures and torrefaction levels. The Torreactor will be capable of producing mildly torrefied biomass—useful for applications in heat, power and biofuels industries (including sustainable aviation fuel)—to highly carbonized products with applications in steel making and other processes.

Construction has begun, with commissioning and startup expected soon.