Mixed biomass pelleting potential for Portugal, step forward to circular use of biomass residues

• Published in: Energy reports 2020-02, Vol.6 (1), p.940-945
• Main Authors: Sirous, Reza, da Silva, Fernando José Neto, Tarelho, Luís António da Cruz, Martins, Nelson Amadeu Dias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomass residues; Circular economy; Mixed biomass pelleting; Portugal; Potential assessment
• ISSN: 2352-4847; 2352-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.01.002

Densification of the biomass residues as an efficient method to produce a renewable and CO2 neutral energy resource has been in consideration in recent years. However, according to a recent boost in the European wood pellet demand, the importance of R&D studies for substitution and enhancement of current raw materials for pelleting purposes has been increased. A large amount of annual garden waste and agricultural residues in Portugal causes that so-called Mixed Biomass Pelleting (MBP) method becomes a promising approach of the future that by closing the cycles in the agro-economic environments of Portugal, enhances the socio-economic conditions in the rural areas. This itself will have one more important consequence of wildfire prevention in the Portuguese forests. This work as a subset of a broader study that aims to develop an evaluation tool for circular economies will cover the information required for a techno-economic analysis of mixed biomass pelleting by a review on potential assessment methods, a rough-cut assessment of agro-residues potential for Portugal and gathering the required information about pellets origin, characteristics and legislative frames.