Within its Biomass-energy unit, CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) develops research activities, training and expertise on the processes dedicated to the thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass. It participates in the development of innovative, clean and efficient technologies able to face the energy needs and environmental challenges of the northern and southern countries. It has several pilot-scale operational facilities dedicated to biomass torrefaction, pyrolysis, combustion and gasification (<100 kWth) developed in the framework of European partnerships. It also has internationally recognized experience and know-how in the fields of analysis and physicochemical characterization of solid and liquid biofuels. CIRAD is involved in the coordination and scientific follow-up of several national and international projects on pyrolysis and gasification.

References: CIRAD was the coordinator of the European LIFTOFF demonstration project dedicated to the implementation of a wood gasifier in Denmark for cogeneration, as well as the ANR Precond, Catapult and TorbiGaP projects dealing with biomass flash pyrolysis and torrefaction. CIRAD was also a partner of the ANR CINE-HT (coordinated by CEA in Grenoble), AMAZON (coordinated by FCBA in Grenoble) and INVERTO (coordinated by CEA in Grenoble) projects and the GAYA demonstration project supported by ENGIE. It was the French representative of the European networks called PYNE (biomass PYrolysis NEtwork) and GASNET biomass (GASification NETwork), which have brought together researchers, engineers and manufacturers involved in the development of biomass pyrolysis and gasification processes. The work produced by researchers in Montpellier or in the southern countries led to numerous scientific publications in international journals and congresses.