Graanul Invest: Pioneering Sustainable Bioenergy from Estonian Forests

Graanul Invest, a leading bioenergy producer in Estonia, is revolutionizing the renewable energy landscape. By employing sustainable practices such as the cascading use of woody biomass, Graanul Invest ensures that no material goes to waste, contributing to both the local economy and global climate goals. Their vision of advancing biomass science could make significant strides toward carbon-negative energy solutions.

Transparency, Control, and Trust

Kristel Pern, Sustainable Sourcing Specialist at Graanul Invest, states: “Certified and sustainable pellet raw materials begin with sustainably managed forests. In the Baltic States in the 90s, after the restoration of independence and the return of private ownership, all plots and cadastral units in the country needed to be re-measured. This initiative resulted in one of the first fully digitized geo- and land data registers. Today, all works in the forest are digitally registered. We also have precise cadastral and land-based information indicating the origin of the wood used as raw materials. We verify every delivery at the gate of the pellet factory using the digital transport sheet for each load. Every truckful is precisely measured with 3D laser scanners, and at the same time, we always double-check the origin of location against all registers to detect any overlapping with environmental and other restrictions. “

Cascading use of woody biomass

The concept of cascading use of woody biomass is central to Estonian forestry, sawmills, and woody biomass processing industries. This approach enhances sustainability while ensuring the efficient utilization of resources, and minimizing environmental impact.

In Graanul Invest, wood pellet production process is designed to be as sustainable as possible, using only raw materials derived from non-energy industries that have no other application and would otherwise go to waste. All the heat and electricity for Graanul Invest pellet factories are produced with forestry leftovers, chipped fine branches and cut-offs, and wood bark residues across wood processing industries.
Even the ash from their CHPs is re-used in a cascading and sustainable manner, becoming a valued mineral fertilizer for local farmers. This closes the fully functional circular and cascading loop of timber processing across industries as well as creating opportunities for innovation and collaboration across sectors.

Vision for the Future

Graanul Invest’s vision is to accelerate the science and perception of biomass as a key component of the global renewable energy transition. By promoting the use of wood-based biomass, the company aims to contribute to achieving the climate goals outlined in The Paris Agreement. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, Graanul Invest aims to drive industry-wide adoption of cascading use principles, fostering a more sustainable future for the bioenergy sector.
Graanul Invest is committed to continuous improvement in all aspects of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), ensuring a transparent and sustainable future for the bioenergy sector.
Besides substituting fossil fuels in the energy sector, wood pellets and other biofuels have much more potent future potential. The future goal is to become carbon-negative and lock biogenic carbon with BECCS technologies, as well as de-carbonizing industries such as aviation (SAF), lime, cement, metal production, etc.