Biomass is one of the promising renewable energy resources and can be a partial alternate to fossil fuels. Common methods applied to make use of biomass energy potential are biochemical and thermochemical conversion methods. Pyrolysis is a thermo-chemical process carried out in the absence of oxygen that yields with three different end-products – bio-oil, biochar and syngas. Pyrolysis of agricultural residues can help meet renewable energy targets by displacing fossil fuels and, thereby, deal with concerns regarding the global warming. Unlike direct combustion, pyrolysis yields with more end-products. Bio-oil has environmental benefits as a clean fuel and causes less pollution as compared to fossil fuels, whereas biochar can be put on soil and act as a carbon-sequestering and climate-mitigating agent.

Based on the above-mentioned, the overall objective of this project is to determine the potential of different types of biomass residues and waste, and dedicated crops, for bio-oil and biochar production via pyrolysis. Since the type of feedstock significantly influences the pyrolysis process and the yield of end-products, the specific objective of the proposed project will be to determine the potential of pyrolysis from different biomass feedstocks collected in two climatically different regions, Mediterranean and Continental Croatia. Project will be split into three main phases, including feedstock collection and characterization, biomass pyrolysis, and end-products’ (bio-oil and biochar) characterization. This will provide the most detailed database so far, speaking worldwide, and should result with the information on the optimum feedstock, concerning the available biomass in relation to the region.