In recent years, we have faced global challenges related to environmental protection and the search for sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. Biomass, which is natural materials such as wood, straw or other organic waste, represents a solution that not only allows for efficient waste management but also for the production of affordable fuel with a low carbon footprint.

Biomass briquetting is a technology that converts this waste into solid fuel briquettes. This process improves cost-effectiveness because the briquettes have a high calorific value, are compact, easy to store and use material that would otherwise go unused for their production.

Briquetting is not a difficult process, but every step plays a key role in the quality of the final product. For a better understanding, we will discuss each step in more detail:

Various types of organic waste can be briquetted, but the basic step is the collection and proper preparation of the material. The biomass used for briquetting must be clean, free of impurities such as stones, glass or metal parts that could damage the machinery.

The most commonly used raw materials include:

• Wood waste (sawdust, chips, shavings).
• Agricultural residues (straw, corn cobs, nut shells).
• Other organic material that would otherwise end up in landfill.

The biomass that is harvested is often not in the ideal size for briquetting. It is therefore shredded into smaller pieces using special shredders. The ideal particle size is roughly 5-10 mm. This step achieves uniform compression and shaping of the briquettes in the next stage.

One of the most important factors in briquetting is the moisture content of the raw material. If the material is too moist, the briquettes will not be firm and their calorific value will be low. The ideal moisture content of biomass is between 8-12%. Drying can be done naturally if you have enough time and space, or mechanically using drying ovens to speed up the process.

The briquetting itself takes place in special machines that compress the biomass under high pressure. This pressure causes the material to fuse into a solid shape without the need for chemical binders. The resulting briquettes can be of different shapes, for example cylindrical or cubic, depending on the type of briquetting machine.

Economic savings: briquettes are a significantly cheaper source of energy than fossil fuels. Many businesses and households therefore increasingly prefer them.

Environmental benefit: The use of waste for fuel production contributes to waste reduction and the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

High calorific value and long burning time: briquettes are compact and have a higher calorific value than wood. This means that they burn longer and with greater efficiency.

Easy storage and handling: thanks to its compact form, the briquettes are easy to store and transport, which is also practical for smaller companies and households.

Based on needs and possibilities, there are three main alternatives to briquetting. In the next sections of the blog, we’ll take a detailed look at each of these and discuss what they entail in terms of space, materials and investment.

1. Briquetting of own material. If you have access to waste materials, for example from wood production or agricultural activities, you can convert them into briquettes yourself and use them as fuel for your own use. In this alternative, we will explain what machinery you will need, what space is required to store the raw materials and finished briquettes, and what the investment is expected to be. ⇒VIAC INFO

2. Briquetting as a service. If you have the machinery and know-how, you can offer briquetting as a service to others. People or companies can bring you raw materials which you process into briquettes for a fee. For this option, we will look at what space and equipment you will need and what the benefits of this service are in terms of income and business development. ⇒VIAC INFO

3. Briquetting as a business plan. You can consider biomass briquetting as a complete business plan where you will collect raw materials, produce briquettes and sell them to end customers or wholesalers. We will discuss what the financial costs are to get started, how much space is needed for storage and how much biomass you will need for an efficient business. ⇒VIAC INFO

Regardless of the briquetting method, biomass briquettes are universally usable as:

• Biomass fuel for domestic and industrial heating.
• An ecological alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
• Product for sale for wholesale and retail market.
• Sustainable solutions in the framework of waste management and circular economy.

Biomass briquetting is an efficient way to use waste materials and at the same time obtain a cheap and environmentally friendly source of energy. Whether you want to use biomass for your own purposes, start briquetting as a service, or build an entire business on briquettes, each alternative has its own advantages and specific requirements. In the following articles, we will take a closer look at each of these options and help you choose the right path.