For decades, coal, oil, and natural gas have been the primary heating fuel sources for industrial boilers. Faced with increasingly stringent environmental regulations and volatile traditional fuel prices, industrial boiler users are actively seeking reliable and economical alternative heating fuels. With technological advancements, various alternative heating fuels have demonstrated significant potential. Among these, Pyrolysis Oil, Biomass Generated Fuel, and Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) are the most prominent choices.
So, which of these three mainstream alternative boiler heating fuels offers the best value for your investment? We've conducted a detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision.
Alternative Fuel Option 1: Pyrolysis Oil–Efficient, Economical, Ideal Choice
Pyrolysis oil is a liquid fuel produced by heating various waste materials, such as waste tires, plastics, oil sludge, and municipal organic waste, under anaerobic conditions. It boasts a high calorific value of 15-20 MJ/kg, with performance remarkably similar to conventional boiler fuels. Crucially, it can be directly integrated with existing burners, offering exceptional operational convenience.
Applications of pyrolysis oil
Key Advantages:
Great Economics and Cost-Effectiveness: As a carbon-neutral fuel derived from waste, pyrolysis oil significantly reduces carbon emissions. More importantly, its acquisition cost is relatively low and highly competitive with current oil prices. For companies with substantial waste volumes, transforming waste into valuable energy via pyrolysis not only offsets waste disposal costs but also generates direct economic benefits. For operators with high fuel consumption, we strongly recommend considering the establishment of their own pyrolysis plants to achieve energy self-sufficiency and substantially reduce operating expenses.
Efficient Combustion and Broad Application: Pyrolysis oil's performance closely mirrors that of traditional fuels. With only minor burner modifications, it can be directly utilized in standard oil-fired boilers. It is suitable for high-energy-demand, high-temperature industries like cement, steel, glass manufacturing, and power plant steam generation. Furthermore, pyrolysis oil can be further refined into diesel fuel for higher added value.
Simple Operation and High Integration: Pyrolysis oil can be directly integrated with existing burner systems, greatly simplifying equipment modification complexities and costs, providing users with significant convenience.
Disadvantages (Requires Careful Consideration):
Quality Variability: The quality of pyrolysis oil can vary depending on the raw materials used.
Limited Suppliers: Current suppliers of pyrolysis oil are not widespread. Establishing your own pyrolysis equipment is an effective way to ensure stable supply and cost control.
Our Professional Support:
As a specialized manufacturer of pyrolysis equipment with extensive industry experience, we have successfully designed and implemented alternative oil production solutions for many clients, helping them effectively reduce operating costs and earning high recognition and praise. If you are considering building your own pyrolysis plant, we can provide a one-stop solution from technical consultation and equipment customization to installation and comprehensive after-sales service.
DOING pyrolysis equipment manufacturer
Alternative Fuel Option 2: Biomass Generated Fuel–Eco-friendly But Suited for Specific Applications
Biomass generated fuel, such as wood pellets, straw, peanut shells from agricultural and forestry waste, or compressed biomass briquettes, is a renewable solid fuel. Its calorific value ranges from 14-18 MJ/kg, comparable to low-grade coal.
Biomass raw materials
Advantages:
Near-Zero Carbon Emissions: The CO2 released during biomass combustion is roughly equivalent to the CO2 absorbed during its growth, making it a carbon-neutral option.
Cost-Effectiveness: In regions with abundant biomass resources, biomass fuel offers good economic efficiency.
Disadvantages:
Higher Collection and Transportation Costs: Biomass raw materials are often dispersed, leading to higher collection and transportation expenses.
Specialized Applications: While biomass fuel has its merits, we suggest it is more ideally suited for food processing industries or for manufacturers looking to acquire carbon asset opportunities. For industrial boiler applications requiring large volumes of stable, high-efficiency heat, its advantages are less pronounced compared to pyrolysis oil.
Alternative Fuel Option 3: Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF)–Potential But with Challenges
Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) is a homogenized solid fuel derived from non-recyclable industrial and commercial waste (such as waste plastics, paper, and textiles). Through processes like fine sorting, crushing, and drying, it achieves a high calorific value, typically reaching 18-25 MJ/kg, surpassing many biomass fuels and comparable to high-quality lignite.
SRF (solid recovery fuel)
Advantages:
High Calorific Value and Direct Replaceability: SRF can directly replace fossil fuels like coal, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Low Raw Material Costs: The low cost of acquiring waste materials can significantly reduce fuel expenses.
Disadvantages:
Quality Control Challenges: SRF's calorific value and composition are highly dependent on the fineness of the upstream sorting process, demanding a stringent quality control system.
Demanding Combustion Systems: Achieving efficient and clean combustion typically requires specialized feeding systems and burners, placing higher demands on operational expertise.
Pollution Treatment Hurdles: The combustion of SRF can generate pollutants like dioxins. This necessitates the installation of expensive and complex flue gas purification equipment to meet emission standards, potentially leading to substantial initial investments.
If you are considering a transition to more economical and environmentally friendly boiler heating, and possess abundant waste resources such as waste tires and plastics, pyrolysis oil is undoubtedly your most ideal choice. Its high energy density, stable supply potential, significant carbon emission advantages, and ease of heating devices integration make it a superior option for replacing traditional fuels, offering excellent cost-effectiveness. By transforming waste into usable energy through pyrolysis technology, you can not only achieve higher thermal power output but also realize lower operating costs and better returns on investment for the same capital outlay.
DOING pyrolysis equipment profit analysis
For operators with high fuel consumption, we sincerely recommend that establishing your own pyrolysis production line is a strategic solution for enhanced competitiveness.
DOING pyrolysis equipment projects
As a specialized manufacturer of pyrolysis equipment with 14 years of experience, Henan DOING Company is dedicated to providing you with efficient pyrolysis technology solutions and high-quality equipment. Our technology has been successfully applied in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. If you have any questions regarding pyrolysis oil production or transitioning to alternative boiler heating fuels, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are committed to offering comprehensive project support of pyrolysis plants to optimize your boiler heating fuel cost.
National High-Tech Enterprise
November 27, 2025
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