Biomass and Bioenergy 30 (2006) 908–914
CEN technical specification for solid biofuels—Fuel specification
and classes
Eija Alakangas
a,
Ã
, Jouni Valtanen
b
, Jan-Erik Levlin
b
a
VTT, P.O. Box 1603, FI-40101 Jyva
¨
skyla
¨
, Finland
b
KCL—Oy Keskuslaboratorio—Centrallaboratorium Ab, P.O. Box 70, FI-02151 Espoo, Finland
Received 17 November 2005; accepted 9 June 2006
Available online 28 August 2006
Abstract
The European Committee for Standardization, CEN (TC335) is currently preparing 30 technical specifications for solid biofuels. The
two most important technical specifications being developed deal with classification and specification (CEN/TS 14961) and quality
assurance for solid biofuels (CEN/TS 15234). The classification of solid biofuels is based on their origin and source. The fuel production
chain of fuels shall be unambiguously traceable back over the whole chain. 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 purpose of classification is
to allow the possibility to differentiate and specify biofuel material based on origin with as much detail as needed. The quality
classification in a table form was prepared only for major traded solid biofuels: briquettes, pellets, exhausted olive cake, wood chips, hog
fuel, wood logs, sawdust, bark, and straw bales. Additionally, a general table was compiled for other biofuels. The most significant
properties are normative, and shall be stated in the fuel specification. The classification is flexible, and hence the producer or the
consumer may select from each property class the classification that corresponds to the produced or desired fuel quality. This so-called
‘‘free classification’’ does not bind different characteristics with each other. An advantage of this classification is that the producer and
the consumer may agree upon characteristics case-by-case. To protect household consumers, examples of so-called ‘‘high-quality’’ fuels
are given as an informative annex A of CEN/TS 14961. This paper describes the fuel specifications and classes of solid biofuels, which
was published in April 2005.
r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Standardisation; Solid biofuels; Classification; Classes; Specifications
1. Preparation of the technical specifications for solid
biofuels
The solid biofuel standardisation work is supervised by a
Technical Committee (TC335), the secretariat operating
under the Swedish Standardisation Organisation, SIS.
About 30 technical specifications will be worked up in five
working groups (WG) [1–3]:
WG 1—Terminology and definitions
WG 2—Fuel specifications and classes, and quality
assurance
WG 3—Sampling and sample reduction
WG 4—Mechanical and physical properties
WG 5—Chemical properties
Working group 2 is managed by the Finnish secretariat
and work includes Fuel specifications and classes [3] and
Fuel quality assurance [4].
2. Scope and classification of solid biofuels
The following biofuels will be included in the mandate of
the TC335 [3]:
products from agriculture and forestry,
vegetable waste from agriculture and forestry,
vegetable waste from the food processing industry,
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doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2006.06.001
Ã
Corresponding author. Tel.: +358 20 722 2550, fax: +358 20 722 2598.
E-mail addresses: eija.alakangas@vtt.fi (E. Alakangas),
jouni.valtanen@kcl.fi (J. Valtanen), jan-erik.levlin@iki.fi (J.-E. Levlin).