The best of both worlds. Higher heat output from the softwood, with the stable burn of hardwood. More than 8600 BTUs per pound and under one percent ash create a hot, yet clean fire. This pellet is also available in 20lbs bags to make it a little easier on your back. We source our softwood pellet raw materials from softwood residues from sawmills and other softwood processing. No whole trees are used in Energex wood pellets. Softwood has a lower density than hardwood in its original form, so it burns faster at a higher temperature. However, this changes once the softwood is densified into a wood pellet and has the same density as a hardwood pellet. The biggest difference comes with the extra lignins in softwood pellets make them burn hotter than hardwood, meaning production quality truly decides what you will get out of your pellets. It is not determined based on the wood species.