Overview - EN ISO 21644:2021 (Solid recovered fuels - Biomass content)
EN ISO 21644:2021 is a CEN-endorsed international standard that specifies accepted laboratory methods for determining the biomass (biogenic) content of solid recovered fuels (SRF). Published in 2021 and replacing EN 15440:2011, the standard provides procedures and reporting requirements to quantify the fraction of material originating from biological (non‑fossil) sources in SRF.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Three endorsed methods for biomass determination:
- C content / 14C method (radiocarbon measurement) - normative Annex A.
- Selective dissolution method (SDM) - normative Annex B, based on differential chemical solubility.
- Manual sorting method (Msort) - normative Annex C, based on visual separation of fractions.
- Sampling and sample preparation requirements (Clauses 6.1–6.2) to ensure representative laboratory samples and valid test portions.
- Expression of results: biomass may be expressed as mass fraction, energy fraction (gross or net calorific value), or carbon fraction - allowing integration with energy accounting and emissions reporting.
- Performance characteristics and test reporting requirements are defined (Clauses 8–9; Annexes D–E provide limitations and performance data).
- Normative references include related ISO documents for terminology, sampling, sample preparation, calorific value, ash and elemental analysis (e.g., ISO 21637, ISO 21645–21656, ISO 21663).
Practical applications and users
- Primary users:
- Laboratories performing routine or contract testing of SRF.
- Producers, suppliers and purchasers of solid recovered fuels needing certified biomass shares for fuel classification, billing or compliance.
- Regulators and inspection bodies tracking renewable energy fractions, sustainability claims, or greenhouse‑gas accounting.
- Practical uses:
- Determining the renewable energy fraction of SRF for inclusion in biomass or renewable fuel reporting.
- Supporting fuel specification, acceptance testing and quality control throughout production and supply chains.
- Providing input to life‑cycle assessment (LCA) and emissions calculations where the distinction between biogenic and fossil carbon matters.
Related standards
- Supersedes: EN 15440:2011.
- Normative references: ISO 21637 (terminology), ISO 21645–21656 (sampling, sample prep, calorific value, ash, elemental analysis), ISO 21663 (total C/H/N/S determination).
EN ISO 21644:2021 helps standardize how biomass content is measured and reported in solid recovered fuels, enabling consistent classification, regulatory compliance and transparent renewable energy accounting across laboratories and the SRF supply chain.