New Zealand's Department of Corrections installed a 1 MW wood pellet boiler at Invercargill Prison, replacing the site's last coal-fired boiler under the government's zero carbon programme. The unit, supplied by ÖkoFEN, is claimed to be the largest wood pellet boiler of its kind globally. The project is part of a broader push to phase out coal in public sector facilities and reduce operational carbon emissions. Wood pellet boilers burn compressed biomass pellets, which are considered carbon-neutral if sourced from sustainably managed forests. The switch from coal avoids direct fossil fuel emissions and lowers the prison's heating-related carbon footprint. No details were provided on fuel sourcing, boiler efficiency, or installation cost. Readers should look for lifecycle carbon accounting and supply chain sustainability to assess the real impact.
