Solid Biofuels

Solid biofuels fall into four categories:

• Agricultural biomass: including energy crops like miscanthus and switchgrass, as well as crop residues such as corn stalks, wheat straw, and rice husks
• Forestry biomass: forestry and wood products include the likes of wood logs, saw dust, wood pellets or wood chips
• Organic waste biomass: derived from animal manure, food industry waste, and green waste like leaves and clippings
• Industrial waste biomass: including sawdust, black liquor (from pulp manufacturing), and bagasse (a by-product of sugarcane)
• Other: algae, animal fats and used cooking oils also serve as solid or semi-solid bioenergy inputs

Solid biofuels are primarily used to generate renewable heat and electricity. Applications span:

• Industrial heating (e.g. pulp and paper mills using black liquor or sawdust)
• Commercial and residential heating (wood pellets, briquettes)
• Sustainable construction materials (e.g. insulation boards from straw or hemp)
• Waste-to-energy systems (e.g. anaerobic digestion and composting)

By replacing fossil fuels in thermal energy systems, solid biofuels help reduce carbon emissions and support energy security.

At SGS, we provide verification and certification against globally recognized frameworks, including:

• Chain of Custody (FSC™, PEFC) – ensures traceability from source to end use
• ENplus^® – certifies the quality and sustainability of wood pellets
• EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) – verifies legal sourcing through due diligence
• ISCC PLUS – supports climate-friendly, deforestation-free biomass supply chains
• RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) – verifies sustainable production under RSB criteria
• SURE (Sustainable Resources Verification Scheme) – confirms RED II compliance for biomass used in power, heat and cooling