Production and quality of biomass fuels from mechanized collection and processing of vineyard pruning residues

► The annual pruning of vineyards generates over 1 odt of biomass per ha. ► Average moisture content at harvest is 40-45%. ► The higher heating value of vineyard pruning residues is 18.7 MJ kg−1, and slightly lower than that of forest fuels. ► Comminuted vineyard residues are unsuitable for firing residential boilers, due to poor particle size distribution. ► The application of pesticides does not result in any significant contamination with noxious chemicals.