Characterization of Portuguese woody biomass: alignment with the ENPlus® standard for the certification of wood pellets

Abstract

In light of escalating global focus on renewable energy, we examined the potential of wood pellet production as an eco-friendly alternative. Our analysis adhered to the ENPlus certification, a globally acknowledged standard evaluating pellet quality via technical, environmental, and safety indicators. We sought to explore the viability of invasive species and residual biomass, encompassing wood waste, as economical and environmentally responsible substitutes for pellet production. Our exhaustive exploration entailed identifying the challenges and opportunities inherent in establishing a value chain for this process. Despite barriers relating to the availability and quality of waste materials, and economic viability, our study underlines the significant potential of this approach to bolster environmental sustainability and circular economy. It highlights the manifold advantages of employing residual biomass, including reducing reliance on pristine materials, encouraging sustainable forestry, diminishing landfill waste, and enhancing the wood pellet industry’s competitiveness. We discovered that only the P. pinaster species satisfies all ENPlus standard parameters, whereas other species present deviations. The study concludes that the successful implementation of this residual biomass-based value chain hinges on sustainable waste management practices and technological advances in production efficiency.