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With demand soaring for wood pellets to heat homes and generate energy in factories, this Canadian renewable-energy product is increasingly shipped globally, especially to European destinations. For more on this topic, please see the related article below.

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After the wood pellets have been formed, they are screened to shake off the dust, which is then recycled to form more pellets. Here, they are being screened at a pellet plant in Kelowna, B.C.Gordon Murray

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Fibreco Export terminal in North Vancouver, B.C., seen from the water. Ninety per cent of Canadian wood-pellet exports flows through this terminal.Tim Knoop

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Pellets are loaded into a ship through a spout at the Fibreco Export terminal in North Vancouver, B.C.Tim Knoop

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Pellets are unloaded using a vacuum unloader at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium. This is the preferred method of unloading.Gordon Murray

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Another method of unloading wood pellets is with a “grab unloader.” Here, it is unloading a barge at the Port of Vlissingen in Netherlands.Gordon Murray

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A truck empties wood pellets for storage at a power plant before being used.Gordon Murray

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Wood Pellet Association of Canada executive director Gordon Murray in a wood pellet warehouse at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.

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