Whether you run a small workshop, processing plant, sawmill, or agricultural holding - one thing is certain: your work generates waste. Disposing of and recycling them is an unpleasant and often costly obligation, burdened with difficult-to-meet regulations. However, thoughtful waste management can save you a lot of money on the proverbial "trash" and even... make some money.

Let's take a closer look at this. 

How to turn waste into fuel? - biomass fuel production

What is biomass? 

Biomass is - in short - biodegradable agricultural waste of plant or animal origin. In practice, this means all kinds of clippings, peelings, shavings, sawdust and similar residues from the processing process. Such waste has a high energy potential that can be released at a relatively low cost. This is due to the fact that all kinds of plants absorb energy from the sun during their growth. During combustion, this energy can be released. 

Types of biomass fuels

Briquettes

One of the simplest ways to utilize biomass is briquetting. This process involves grinding and then compressing natural waste. The essential device for this purpose is a briquetting machine. Briquette production involves creating high pressure inside the briquetting machine, which binds the material particles to form durable, easy-to-store and transport fuel briquettes. 

The finished fuel is usually in the form of small cubes. Materials suitable for briquette production include: sawdust, straw, leaves, grass, sawmill waste, grain husks, plant stems, unused parts of plants, fruits or vegetables. The energy value of briquettes may vary depending on the type of biomass, material moisture, and processing method. The most energy-efficient: chips briquette has an efficiency level of 17 - 19 MJ/kg.

Briquettes are a fairly versatile fuel in terms of the equipment required to use them. They achieve the best performance in biomass furnaces, but they also burn easily in universal boilers, coal stoves with adjustable air supply, or industrial boilers. Less frequently, but also possible, they are burned in stoves or so-called "goats".

Pellet

A more specialized and balanced type of fuel produced from biomass is pellet. This type of fuel is mainly made from wood waste - all kinds of shavings, sawdust, wood chips or branches that have been previously processed through a wood chipper. Slightly smaller than in the case of briquettes, the range of possibilities also translates into numerous advantages of pellets - primarily efficiency and low production of smoke and ash. High-quality pellets have an energy value of 18 - 20 MJ/kg. 

Pellet production takes place inside a machine called a pelletizer. Just like in the case of briquetting, the initial material is ground and subjected to compression under high pressure. This process eliminates the need for artificial adhesives.

The finished pellet takes the form of cylindrical pellets with a diameter usually not exceeding 1.5 cm. 

This loose form facilitates transportation, and especially dosing the fuel, especially in automated furnaces equipped with a screw feeder. Pellet is intended for use in special furnaces equipped with pellet burners. It burns, producing small amounts of smoke and ash, as it is less humid than wood or mixed briquettes. 

Pellet is a modern heating solution that works great in single-family homes. A well-configured pellet stove allows you to maximize the energy potential of the fuel, and the increasingly popular smart solutions facilitate automatic dosing of pellets, even remotely - using a smartphone.

Biomass fuel production - profitable and ecological

The advantages of biomass fuel production are numerous. 

Producing fuels from biomass is an ecological solution, because unlike fossil fuels, biomass absorbs carbon dioxide (CO₂) during plant growth and releases it back into the atmosphere when burned. This is why the carbon cycle of biomass is almost neutral, which helps reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. 

Additionally, biomass is a renewable source of energy, because plants can be grown quickly, making biomass fuel production sustainable and not depleting natural resources. Production of such fuels also allows for the use of agricultural, forestry, or industrial waste. In this way, waste can be prevented, which none of us like.

Producing your own fuel can also lead to savings and in the case of excess fuel production - even profit. However, it is worth remembering that to legally sell biomass fuel, the producer must meet certain legal requirements, including often obtaining appropriate permits and meeting quality standards.