A BRIEF HISTORY OF BIOMASS

WOOD is our species' earliest form of biofuel and it has been processed into more effective biomass energy fuels for more than 32,000 years.

However, it is only in the last 50 that technology has allowed its conversion into a utility-scale clean alternative to coal.

Today the world has an abundance of dedicated biomass energy generating stations, particularly in the Far East. And more than 2,500 traditional power stations are also able to burn biofuel in pellet form around the globe.

Biomass energy has passed many milestones to reach its current modern configuration as a steam-treated advanced black pellet.

Increasingly, this marvellous green fuel now replaces, and is co-fired with, coal – to help nations reduce carbon emissions and footprints, and meet key climate targets.

In this article, Power Wood Energy plots the gradual rise of biomass energy from its early form in the Palaeolithic period of the Old Stone Age.

And we reveal its route taken to reach our most modern and innovative iteration of biofuel, with high-index durability, energy-rich bulk density and total water-resistance.

Read biomass energy’s full timeline below.

30,000 BC

An early form of torrefied wood is produced as charcoal by Neanderthals during the Stone Age’s Palaeolithic period. Digging small pits into the ground, they cover burning Birch bark with soil or clay raised up into a kiln structure. This early form of slow pyrolysis creates the first known high-heat, smokeless fuel that can be used to provide heat for warmth and cooking inside caves and primitive rock shelters. [1] [2]

1760 - 1840

Coal replaces wood as an industrial energy source during the first industrial revolution. The fossil fuel drives steam engines, helps to mechanize textile production, iron production and factory systems. However, wood iss given a new lease of life and purpose as a domestic source of energy. More localized and residential use of biomass ensures it remains an important form of heat production. [1] [2] [3]

1924

The steam explosion process, which would later be used for producing steam-treated black pellets, is first developed and patented by US research engineer William H. Mason. Discovered by accident in his laboratory and then called ‘the Mason method’ by his contemporaries, the inventor uses it to convert wood fibres into the first fibreboards made without using resin. He goes on to mass produce his new product from 1929. [4] [5] 

1928

Pet food producer Purina pioneers the first commercial pelletizing process in the US by pressing flour mill waste, ground corn and wheat middlings into transportable, dense pellets to reduce dust and waste. This innovative breakthrough revolutionizes the animal feed industry by turning unpalatable, dusty industrial mill by-products into dense and storable, highly nutritious, easy-to-eat meal pellets. [6] 

1976

Reno inventor Rudolf Gunnerman revolutionizes the bioenergy industry by patenting a process to compress raw wood waste and sawdust into extruded wood pellets. His innovation utilizes high pressure and heat to push saw mill residuals through a cast iron press into uniform wood fuel shots, binding the materials crudely in the process and establishing the first clean-burning alternative to fossil fuel. [7] 

1978

Sparked by the 1970s oil crisis, the first commercial wood pellet plant in the US opens in Sandpoint, Idaho, when entrepreneurs modify an animal feed mill to compress sawdust into uniform fuel pellets. Their innovation offers consumers an alternative to traditional fossil fuels for residential heating and it drives the development of specialized domestic pellet stoves that reside in homes today. [8] 

1981

Construction begins on the world’s first dedicated wood pellet plant in Mora, Sweden. Operational by late 1982, it uses forest residues and bark to create biofuel for large-scale district heating and the country’s domestic pellet industry. Unfortunately, the pilot facility never achieves continuous production while poor pellet quality, with high ash and moisture content, and low heating efficiency, see the plant close in 1986. [9] [10] 

1985

The first industrial application of torrefaction is tested in France by French metals company, Pechiney. The Laval-de-Cère plant turns local forestry biomass into 12,000 tonnes of coal-like fuel each year, to be burned instead of coke in Pechiney’s electric furnaces. Surplus is sold to the leisure market as charcoal for barbecues before economic and technical challenges see the torrefaction plant close in 1989. [5]   

1987

The world’s first large-scale commercial wood pellet plant is established in Kil, Sweden – with an initial production capacity of 3000 tons per year. The Kil plant serves as a prototype for the further adoption of bioenergy, in anticipation of Sweden’s introduction of strict fossil fuel and carbon dioxide taxes. It is the founding operation of Kils Energi AB which continues to operate as a municipal energy company today. [11]     

1988

Canada's first commercial wood pellet plant is built by Carrier Lumber in Prince George, British Columbia. By compressing sawmill residues, this pioneering facility turns wood waste into the country’s first source of highly efficient, dense heating biofuel. Targeting European export markets, it proves the economic viability of bioenergy production and establishes British Columbia's biomass industry globally. [12]     

1990

Finland enacts the world’s first national carbon tax, targeting fossil fuels to curb greenhouse gases. The tax guides corporate investment away from coal, results in Finnish power plants adopting biomass fuel, alters the nation’s energy landscape forever and constitutes the world’s first major shift towards clean energy. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany follow suit over the following seven years. [13] [14]       

2003

Norway becomes the first country to repurpose William H. Mason’s steam explosion process for making steam-treated biofuel pellets from woody biomass. In doing so, its ‘Arbacore’ pilot facility in Grasmo, outside the city of Kongsvinger, becomes the world’s first advanced black pellet plant to supply a realistic offtake replacement for fossil fuel coal, burned at utility-scale in European power generating stations. [15] [16]

2005

Extensive investigation by The Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands establishes a new technical method to combine torrefaction and pelletization for enhancing the characteristics of torrefied biomass. The foundational report details a 200°C–300°C oxygen-free batch production process for generating wood pellets with greater energy density, water-resistance and grindability than white wood pellets. [17]    

2014

Canada’s Atikokan Generating Station in Ontario becomes North America's largest 100% biomass facility, consuming white wood pellets sourced from its local forestry sector. Following a landmark CA$170 million transition, the 205 MW facility replaces its coal-fired operation, officially decommissioned in 2012. It resumes commercial operations as a dedicated biomass plant to provide a baseload energy from July 2014. [18]         

2015

Canada’s Thunder Bay Generating Station in Ontario becomes the world’s first generating station to burn steam-treated advanced black pellets in a commercial power plant setting. After only minor modifications to milling, conveyance and humidity control, costing a mere CA$3 million, the facility begins intermittent operation as a ‘peaking power plant’ in February and remains in commission until July 2018. [19]         

2018

Finnish industrial engineers Valmet develop the first continuous steam explosion technology for manufacturing advanced black pellets, as a true direct drop in replacement for coal. Valmet’s ground-breaking net-zero Biotrac™ pressurized process turns out perfectly homogenous pellets with notably high energy and bulk densities, total water-resistance, greater durability and better grindability than previous biofuel pellet iterations. [20]         

2023

Canadian biofuel company Power Wood Energy prepares to construct two advanced black pellet production facilities in Alberta’s Mackenzie County. The company also secures Crown forestry rights to use nature’s waste stream wildfire-damaged deadwood, instead of round wood, as feedstock for producing steam-treated black pellets made with Valmet’s new Biotrac™ continuous-loop pressure explosion technology.           

[1] Vocal Media. (2024, February 12). The evolution of wood as an energy source: From tradition to modern biomass. Vocal History & Energy Insights. https://vocal.media/history/the-evolution-of-wood-as-an-energy-source-from-tradition-to-modern-biomass

[2] Thuan Hai Energy. (2023, August 15). The history of biomass development: From ancient fire to modern bioenergy. Thuan Hai Market Insights. https://thuanhai.com.vn/news/market-news/the-history-of-biomass-development.html

[3] Fernandes, A. M., Malanima, P., & Warde, P. (2007). Pre-industrial energy consumption in Europe: The transition from wood to coal. The Economic History Review, 60(2), 340–367. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0289.2006.00366.x

[4] Mason, W. H. (1926, March 30). Process and apparatus for disintegration of wood and the like (U.S. Patent No. 1,578,609A). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/US1578609A/en 

[5] LEC Partners. (2020, July 1). A short history of biofuels & biodiesel: Early commercial torrefaction and pellet mill developments. LEC Partners Bioenergy Insights. https://lee-enterprises.com/a-short-history-of-biofuels/  

[6] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2026, October 11). Ralston Purina Company: History and innovation in pelletized feeds. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. https://www.britannica.com/money/Ralston-Purina-Company 

[7] Reno Gazette-Journal. (2018, September 12). From the archives: Reno inventor’s pellet technology shaped early renewable energy industry. Reno Gazette-Journal Local & Business History. https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2018/09/12/reno-inventor-rudolf-gunnerman-bioenergy-wood-pellet-patents/1248093002/ 

[8] Biomass Magazine. (2015, May 20). The West’s quest: How Sandpoint, Idaho became the birthplace of modern residential wood pellet production. Biomass Magazine / Pellet Mill Magazine. https://biomassmagazine.com/articles/the-wests-quest-11932 

[9] Bioenergy International. (2023, January 5). 2023 sets the spotlight on biomass pellets: Historical milestones from Mora and Kil to modern biopower. Bioenergy International Industry Reports. https://bioenergyinternational.com/2023-sets-the-spotlight-on-biomass-pellets/ 

[10] Gemco Pellets Mills. https://www.gemcopelletmills.com/biomass-pellet-development.html

[11] World Export Insights. (2025, August 8). History of biomass pellets: A remarkable global evolution. World Export Global Biomass Reports. https://worldexport.com.vn/history-of-biomass-pellets-industry-evolution/ 

[12] Logging & Sawmilling Journal / ForestNet. (2024, June 27). John Swaan: A forest industry trailblazer, and the godfather of Canadian biomass. Logging & Sawmilling Journal Industry Profiles. https://forestnet.com/john-swaan/

[13] International Energy Agency (IEA). (2015, September 10). CO2 tax on fossil fuels – Finland energy policy archive. IEA Policy Database. https://www.iea.org/policies/3934-co2-tax-on-fossil-fuels

[14] Bioenergy International. (2023, January 5). 2023 sets the spotlight on biomass pellets: Carbon taxation and historical milestones from Finland to global biopower. Bioenergy International Industry Reports. https://bioenergyinternational.com/2023-sets-the-spotlight-on-biomass-pellets/

[15] Circle Economy Hub. (2025, May 9). From coal to wood pellets: Arbaflame steam-explosion black pellets for utility power conversion. Circle Economy Knowledge Hub Reports. https://circle-economy.com/knowledge-hub/article/8453

[16] European Bioenergy Demo Plants Database (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 / BEST). (2018, July 3). Project Arbaflame Grasmo Plant: Steam explosion biomass pelletization. BEST Research & IEA Bioenergy Database. https://demoplants21.best-research.eu/projects/info/3794/8JBaZy

[17] (2016, May 26) Yuanzhe Li, Peter Tittmann, Nathan Parker, Bryan Jenkins. Economic impact of combined torrefaction and pelletization processes on forestry biomass supply. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcbb.12375

[18] Ontario Power Generation. (2025, July 2) OPG’s Atikokan Generating Station marks 40th anniversary. https://www.opg.com/news-resources/newsroom/our-stories/story/opgs-atikokan-generating-station-marks-40th-anniversary/

[19] Bioenergy International. Alan Sherrard. (2014, December 14). World’s first advanced biomass power plant conversion nears completion. https://bioenergyinternational.com/worlds-first-advanced-biomass-power-plant-conversion-nears-completion/

[20] Valmet Insights. (2017, October 24). A replacement for fossil coal in power plants: Black pellets and continuous BioTrac™ technology. Valmet Biofuels & Biomaterials Industry Reports. https://www.valmet.com/insights/articles/biofuels-and-biomaterials/black-pellets---a-replacement-for-fossil-coal-in-power-plants/