Article

A study by the University of Nottingham reveals that waste cardboard can serve as an effective biomass fuel for large-scale power generation, potentially enhancing the UK's renewable energy resources. The research, published in Biomass and Bioenergy, characterizes cardboard's fuel properties and introduces a method for assessing its composition.

Findings indicate that cardboard has distinct physical and chemical traits compared to traditional biomass, including lower carbon content and a high level of calcium carbonate fillers. Researchers developed a thermogravimetric technique to measure calcium carbonate accurately, providing a reliable assessment of cardboard's fuel quality.

Biomass accounted for 31.1 terawatt-hours of electricity in the UK in 2022, with 21% of the global wood pellet market. With 5.4 million tonnes of cardboard waste generated in the UK in 2021, the study suggests utilizing end-of-life cardboard as biomass fuel could enhance energy security and sustainability efforts.