Torrefied wood performs better than original wood (or another biomass) in both gasification and combustion. Major features and advantages of torrefaction are as follows:

• It increases the O/C ratio of the wood, which improves its gasification efficiency.

• It reduces power requirements for size reduction, and improves handling.

• It offers cleaner-burning fuel with little acid in the smoke.

• A fuel gas that has an enhanced heating value may be obtained through gasification.

• Torrefied wood absorbs less moisture when stored.

• One can produce superior-quality biomass pellets with higher volumetric energy density.

Based on these features, we can easily speculate that torrefaction will allow biomass to be used in entrained-flow gasification, direct combustion in a PC — fired boiler, and production of biopellet.