Monitoring Quality Parameters of Wood Pellets Available on the Polish Market

Wood pellets are a type of biofuel that is traded on the global market. In Poland, the production and use of pellets as a biofuel is rising among individual consumers and the industrial energy sector. Unlike other forms of biomass, pellets are known for their high energy density, consistent quality, and ease of storage and transportation over long distances. The parameters that determine the energy suitability of solid biofuels include calorific value, ash content, and sulfur content. For pellets used in individual heating, they should have a high calorific value (≥16.5 MJ·kg −1), low ash content (≤0.7% for A1 or ≤1.2% for A2 or ≤2% for B), and low sulfur content (≤0.04% for A1 and A2 or ≤0.05% B). It’s important to monitor the quality of pellets by considering the critical values of the technical and elemental analysis results. This study aimed to determine the selected quality parameters of the wood pellets available on the market. The authors tested 40 brands of pellets obtained from various manufacturers. The calorific value of the tested pellets ranged from 15.52 MJ·kg–1 to 18.28 MJ·kg–1, where only 3 samples did not meet the requirements. The ash content varied from 0.25% to 3.08% - 2 samples did not meet the requirements. Also, two samples did not meet the requirements regarding moisture content, and the content in the tested pellets was in the range of 3.76% to 12.19%. The sulfur content ranged from 0.011% to 0.533% - 17 samples did not meet the requirements. Monitoring of selected wood pellet parameters showed that the quality of pellets available on the market varies, and some products do not meet the standards despite manufacturers’ declarations.