TSI, Telfair Forest Products To Build Sustainable Biomass Torrefaction Facility In Georgia

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- TSI and Telfair Forest Products have announced the construction of a torrefaction facility at Telfair Forest Product’s facility in Lumber City, Georgia, with commissioning and startup early this year.

According to TSI in a statement, the partnership leverages the company’s best-in-class biomass torrefaction technology and Telfair’s operational excellence to promote the growth of the nascent carbonised biomass industry.

TSI chief executive officer, Benny Teal highlighted the facility’s role in overcoming the industry's challenge of obtaining large commercial samples needed for further development of production facilities.

The new facility, with an annual capacity of over 15,000 tonnes, is designed to handle a wide range of temperatures and torrefaction levels.

In addition to promoting new applications for sustainable biomass, the project also enjoys the support of the state government for its contribution to the local community.

Georgia Senator Blake Tillery said TSI will lead the collaboration with Telfair Forest Products to bring 15 new and retained jobs for Lumber City and Telfair County with the development of a small torrefaction unit.

At the facility, a TSI-designed and fabricated Torreactor will be paired with Telfair’s logistics for the torrefaction and densification of biomass to provide commercial demonstration samples for industrial users. The output produced will enable heavy industries to continue striving toward sustainability goals by proving the viability of torrefied biomass as a fossil fuel substitute.

Torrefaction is a process where biomass, such as wood residuals and agricultural waste, is thermally treated in a low-oxygen environment. This enables the material to be used in industries traditionally reliant on fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, the Torreactor will be capable of producing mildly torrefied biomass, useful for applications in heat, power and biofuels industries, to highly carbonised products with applications in steel making and other processes, enabling a greener and more sustainable future.

-- BERNAMA