Quality control of woodchip energy parameters usign near infrared spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics

Considering the increase in the energy demand and the European targets to minimize environmental impacts, woodchip is considered a good alternative for bioenergy production. Its characteristics lead to more standardized handling operations and combustion control and, consequently, to logistic and economic advantages. Because of its inherent variability the quality and chemical characteristics of the woodchip material need to be evaluated, resulting in a better application and in a reduction of emission problems. NIR spectroscopy could be considered a rapid and reliable system to quality monitoring compared to conventional laboratory analysis. Prediction models could be developed to assess physical and energetic properties of the woodchip material. Bound water content, ash content and calorific value are considered the main energetic quality parameters and prediction models are developed acquiring spectra with two different spectrometers (bench and portable). Good models are developed for the prediction of bound water content, while fair models are developed for the prediction of ash content and calorific value. Results are considered promising for the application along the woodchip supply chain, improving time and costs efficiency, in particular concerning moisture content evaluation.