Classification, specification and quality assurance for solid biofuels

The European Committee of Standardization, CEN (TC335 – Solid biofuels), is currently preparing 30 technical specifications. The two most important CEN Technical Specifications being developed deal with classification and specification (CEN/TS 1461) and quality assurance (CEN/TS 15234). The classification of biofuels is based on their origin and source. The biofuels are divided into the following sub-categories for classification: 1) Woody biomass, 2) Herbaceous biomass, 3) fruit biomass and 4) Blends and mixtures. The quality classification in a table form was prepared only for major traded forms: briquettes, pellets, exhausted olive cake, wood chips, hog fuel, wood logs, sawdust, bark, and straw bales. The most significant properties are normative, and shall be stated in the fuel specification. The classification is flexible, and this “free classification” does not bind different characteristics with each other. An advantage of this classification is that the producer and the customer may agree upon characteristics case-by-case. To guide and protect household consumers, examples of “high quality” fuels are given. The CEN/TS 15234 covers fuel quality assurance and quality control, so that traceability exists and confidence is given by demonstrating that all processes along the overall supply chain of solid biofuels up to the point of the delivery to the end-user are under control.