White coal is the trade name Indian industry uses for biomass briquettes: dense, 90mm pressed cylinders made from agricultural residue and sawdust, with no chemical binders. If you run a boiler, thermic fluid heater, kiln, furnace or dryer and you have been asked to look at a coal alternative, this guide explains what the fuel is, what it is not, where it works, what specification to expect and what a procurement officer should check before placing an order.
What White Coal Actually Is
White coal is a solid fuel made by compressing dried agro residue under high pressure and temperature until it forms a hard, dense briquette. The raw material is plant matter that would otherwise be burnt in the open or left to rot, for example cotton stalks, groundnut shells, mustard husk and sawdust. At Bharat Bio Industries (BBI), our briquettes are 90mm in diameter and contain nothing but the pressed biomass. The natural lignin in the plant material acts as the binding agent, so there are no chemical binders or additives.
Because it is a renewable agro-residue fuel, white coal replaces fossil coal in the plant where it is burnt. The CO2 released on burning biomass is accounted separately under IPCC rules, and we do not describe the fuel as carbon neutral or as a source of carbon credits.
Why Is It Called White Coal?
The name is a trade habit rather than a technical term. Briquettes are used in the same equipment and for the same job as coal, and the contrast with black coal is the usual explanation for the name. In the market you will also hear it called biomass briquettes, bio coal or briquette fuel. In tenders and quotations it is safest to write the product out in full: 90mm biomass briquettes from agro residue, with the specification you expect.
What White Coal Is Not
It Is Not Charcoal
Charcoal is made by heating wood with little air so that the volatile matter is driven off, leaving mostly carbon. White coal is not carbonised. It is raw dried biomass that has been compacted, so it keeps its natural volatile matter and burns like a biomass fuel, with a quicker ignition and a different flame from charcoal.
It Is Not Coal
It contains no mineral coal. It is also not a one-to-one replacement for every grade of coal. The Ministry of Coal grades Indian coal by calorific value, from G-12 at 3700 to 4000 Kcal/kg up to G-6 at 5500 to 5800 Kcal/kg. Our white coal at 3800 to 4200 Kcal/kg sits close to the lower grades. Against a higher-grade coal you will burn more briquette by weight for the same heat, and very high-temperature processes may need a closer look. Our article on white coal versus coal for North Gujarat industries goes through that comparison in detail.
Where Industry Uses White Coal
Briquettes suit equipment that was designed to burn a solid fuel on a grate or in a furnace chamber and that has a feeder or manual firing that can take a 90mm piece. Common uses include:
- Steam boilers in textiles, dyeing, food processing and chemical units.
- Thermic fluid heaters, where steady heat output matters. See our thermic fluid heater guide.
- Kilns and furnaces, including brick and ceramic applications.
- Dryers for agricultural produce and industrial material.
Not every unit is suitable as it stands. Feeder throat size, grate type and air distribution all matter, which is why we always suggest a trial before a contract.
BBI Specification at a Glance
The table below shows Bharat Bio Industries' own specification for 90mm briquettes. These values are confirmed by the batch lab report, which is available on request. They are not government-certified values, and we do not claim any third-party certification.
| Parameter | BBI specification | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| GCV (gross calorific value) | 3800 to 4200 Kcal/kg | Heat released per kilogram of fuel |
| Moisture | Below 10% | Water that must be evaporated before useful heat is released |
| Ash | Below 10%, typically 2 to 8% depending on feedstock | Residue to clean out and dispose of |
| Sulphur | Below 0.1% | Sulphur content of the fuel as tested |
| Size | 90mm briquette | Feeder and hopper compatibility |
| Minimum order | 25 MT | Also our trial quantity |
For a fuller view of the product, see our biomass briquettes page. If you want to know how to interpret the numbers on a test certificate, read how to read a biomass briquette lab report.
How White Coal Compares With Coal
The two fuels differ in several ways that matter to a plant manager. We keep the comparison qualitative here, because the right answer depends on your coal grade and your delivered prices.
- Ash: the Ministry of Coal (via PIB, 2018) describes Indian coal ash as generally 25 to 45%. BBI briquettes are specified at below 10%, typically 2 to 8%. Lower ash generally means less residue to handle, though it does not remove the need for regular cleaning. Our guide on ash handling for boiler planning covers the practical side.
- Heat value: close to lower-grade coal, below higher grades. Compare cost per million Kcal, not price per kilogram.
- Sulphur: we do not claim lower sulphur than coal, since Indian coal is officially described as low in sulphur. Our figure is below 0.1% as tested.
- Feedstock: renewable agro residue instead of mined coal.
The official data behind these points is collected on our why white coal page. Briquettes also differ from pellets, which are smaller and more uniform; our briquettes versus pellets comparison explains when each fits.
What to Check Before You Buy
Ask for the Batch Lab Report
A supplier should be able to show a laboratory report for the batch you are buying: GCV, moisture, ash and sulphur. Ask for it before dispatch and compare it with what your own sample shows on arrival.
Check the Briquette Itself
Look at a delivered load. Briquettes should be dense and whole, with limited dust and broken pieces, and no wet patches or foreign material. Heavy crumbling points to poor pressing or poor storage.
Confirm Feedstock and Consistency
Ash varies with feedstock, which is why the typical range is 2 to 8%. Ask what raw material goes into your lot and whether it will stay consistent from one delivery to the next. The question of binders is also worth settling; see chemical versus organic binders.
Do Your Own Cost Comparison
Work out cost per million Kcal using your own delivered prices, boiler efficiency and handling cost. Our fuel cost calculator does this with the prices you enter, and nothing else is assumed.
Start With a Trial
A 25 MT trial lets you test the fuel in your own equipment before committing. Our 25 MT trial checklist walks through the baseline data, delivery sampling and shift logs to prepare.
A Note on Standards and Taxes
A BIS standard exists for briquettes made from agro and herbaceous residues, IS 18725:2024, and BIS marking is voluntary. We refer to it for context and do not claim BIS certification. On GST, biomass briquettes are listed at 5% and coal at 18% as of October 2026; please confirm on the CBIC GST rate schedule or with your tax advisor before you finalise any costing.
Next Step
White coal works best when it is matched to the right equipment and checked against a real batch report. Our team can share the report, discuss your feeder and storage setup and quote a 25 MT lot.
Contact our team with your boiler, heater or kiln details to request a quote and the batch lab report.
Quick fuel check
About 50.0 MT/month of 90mm Biomass Briquettes (White Coal) matches 50 MT of Indian Coal. Enter both prices for a cost comparison.
Open the full landed-cost calculator