Summary
The U.S. pellet market is worth almost $9 billion. The majority of pellets are made from hardwood processing waste, and their applications are limited to heating and energy generation. Biomass-based pellets could replace coal in some industrial settings if they can achieve a higher energy density and strength than wood-based pellets. Converting low-cost, regionally available materials such as food processing waste and fast-growing crops into high-value solid fuels could enhance rural energy independence. However, designing biobased combustible fuels as drop-in substitutes for coal requires adv
