Common bio fuels and their energy content

Approximately energy content in some common bio fuels are indicated in the table below.

• 1 MJ/kg = 430 Btu/lb_m

Converting values between some common biomass energy units are indicated below:

• 1 metric tonne bone dry wood fuel = 18 GJ = 5 MWh = 500 litres oil  = 500 m3 natural gas
• 1 tonne air-dry wood fuel = 3 MWh = 11 GJ
• 1 cubic metre of wood chip = about 1.0 MWh = 3.6 GJ
• 1 barrel of oil = 6.1 GJ = 1.7 MWh, = 1.7 m³ wood chip = 0.5 m³ solid bone-dry wood
• 1 m³ solid bone-dry wood  = 0.68 tonnes