Torrefied, carbonised biomass capacity to rise: IBTC

: Biomass
24/05/23

The total production capacity of torrefied and carbonised biomass is expected to reach 1.2mn t/yr by the end of 2026, from 226,000 t/yr currently in operation, according to data collected by the International Biomass Torrefaction and Carbonisation Council (IBTC) from its members.

Of this, nearly 1.1mn t/yr of capacity will be for an end product with 60pc carbon content or less, from 223,000 t/yr currently. And 30,000 t/yr is expected to be capacity to produce carbonised biomass with carbon content of 75pc or higher, from 3,000 t/yr currently in operation, IBTC data show.

"After 15 dry years, there is capacity up and running and more to come," IBTC president Michael Wild told delegates at the Argus Biomass Conference in London last month.

Further out, around 9mn t/yr of capacity is in the pipeline through to the end of 2030, with the potential as high as 18mn t/yr, according to IBTC. Of this, 7.1mn t/yr would be in the pipeline for biomass with carbon content of 60pc or less with the potential as high as 12mn t/yr.

The power generation sector, including bio-intermediaries such as for gasification, methanol and sustainable aviation fuel-producing sectors, and the reductant material sector, primarily for carbonised biomass' use in steelmaking, are the applications driving most of the volumes as observed by producers and suppliers, IBTC said. New applications, such as in the process material, metallurgy and sequestration material industries, are anticipated to also become key drivers by 2030.

Europe is currently the main geography driving developments in the torrefied and carbonised biomass sector. A geographical shift is anticipated by the end of the decade, with North America expected to significantly close its gap to Europe, and Asia also set to become the third-largest geography, IBTC data show.

By Marta Imarisio

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