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People´s growing awareness in connection with environmental problems, communities´ ambitious targets in connection with reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing prices for conventional types of fuel (fossil fuels) are the reasons for a recent upsurge in utilising renewable energy sources. As sustainability and foresightedness are important issues to be taken into account in this connection, wood is a viable kind of biomass which can be utilised as a source of heat and energy. This work focuses on standards and technical specifications in connection with woodfuel´. The author devotes special attention to the ones issued by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). Several scientific methods are applied in order to investigate their practicability and applicability. The book deals with the necessity to overcome problems concerning conflicting specifications in different countries as well as to introduce general standards that are binding throughout Europe in order to create a basis for trade and consumer confidence.

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Hardy Gay (M.Sc.): studied ´International Forest Ecosystem Management´ and ´Global Change Management´ at the UNIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT in Eberswalde, Germany

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