Torrefaction in the Ukraine

Say what?

You weren’t expecting that headline, were you?

For lack of a technical explanation, torrefaction is the roasting of biomass in the presence of a minimal amount of oxygen, with the aim of improving its energy-related properties.  It’s a process that makes a great deal of sense for certain types of waste streams from agriculture: corn stover, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, byproducts from the timber/lumber industry, etc.—materials that have a certain energy content, but that can be packaged in far more energy-dense and convenient ways for later consumption.  Torrefied straw, for instance, has 25% more energy content per pound than wood pellets.

This morning, I had a Skype chat with a gentleman in the Ukraine whose career consists of collecting and torrefying a small fraction of the 31 million tons of straw that is produced annually in his country, and selling that product all over Europe.  Insofar as he’s looking to take on a partner, I’ve linked the executive summary of his business plan here, if anyone’s interested.