As interest in alternative fuel sources grows, international standards for solid biofuels, including wood pellets, forest and agricultural waste, are crucial in moving ahead. The International Organization for Standardization, created in Sweden, is hoping to publish a set of standards developed by its 27 member countries in 2011. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers held a Webinar Sept. 11 to discuss the importance of standards and how to get involved in the development process.

Each country participating in ISO gets one vote and has its own technical committee with designated working groups. Consensus is reached at the national level.

Standards are needed to create a level playing field for solid biofuels, according to Lars Sjoberg, international secretariat for ISO Technical Group 238 in Sweden. He compared it to a soccer game between two different countries. “Without international standards, it’s hard for the referee to make his calls,” he said. “It’s very important to have common rules and methods.”

Standards are needed to ensure ongoing customer satisfaction, according to the Biomass Thermal Energy Council. “We need consumers to trust the fuels and that’s why we feel standards are important,” said Jon Strimling, BTEC CEO.

Chris Wiberg, chief operating officer of Wisconsin-based Twin Ports Testing and member of the Pellet Fuels Institute, agreed and discussed the standards PFI has approved. The first round of standards was developed in 1995, but issues such as a lack of clearly defined testing and measurement methods warranted a new set. PFI developed those new standards between July 2005 and July 2008. They can be viewed at www.pelletheat.org. Wiberg said PFI’s standards can be incorporated into currently proposed ISO standards, or included as a separate work item.

Standards are necessary for the University of Wisconsin to convert its power plant to biomass, slated to occur by 2013, according to Richard Straub, chairperson of UW’s biological systems engineering department. The university will need standards that define value and properties of feedstock, he said, along with handling and logistics standards.

The ASTM International Committee on E48 Biotechnology has developed 36 international standards, according to ASTM E84 manager Brynn Murphy. Of 110 total members, 25 are international, she said, and unlike ISO, each member gets a vote, not each country. The Biomass Conversion subcommittee has developed 14 standards and has one working item, she added.

ISO’s 27 members include countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia, Sjoberg said. “Unfortunately, there are some more countries we’d like to participate,” he said. “Hopefully in the near future, we can have them in the committee.” ISO has already developed standards pertaining to terminology, sampling, ash content, determination of particle size distribution and of minor and major elements, among others.

The organization has plenty of research participants, but is looking for more from the industry, Sjoberg said. “It’s very important to have broad participation.” The American National Standards Institute is the ISO member for the U.S. Its Web site, www.ansi.org, includes information on ISO.

The ISO held its first meeting in 2008; another plenary will be held in Bellevue, Wash., Oct. 16, with working group meetings Oct. 14 and 15. ASABE administers U.S. positions for ISO/TC 238 and nine other ISO technical committees. The committee is open to new participants and is looking for widespread representation from the industry. To get involved with the U.S. committee or to attend the October meetings, contact Scott Cedarquist, ASABE director of standards, at (269) 932-7031.