International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research Vol.2 (12), pp. 475-483, December 2014 Available online at http://www.journalissues.org/IJAPR/ http://dx.doi.org/10.15739/IJAPR.020 © 2014 Journal Issues ISSN 2350-1561 Original Research Article Bioenergy potential of shrub from native species of northeastern Mexico 21st November, 2014 1* Maginot Ngangyo Heya, 1 Foroughbakhch Rahim Pournavab, 2 Carrillo_Parra Artemio and 2 Colin Urieta Serafin 1 Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo León, University Town, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico. 2 Laboratory of Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry Sciences, University Autonomous of Nuevo León, Linares, Mexico. Tel. (+521) 8120340601 * Corresponding Author E-mail: nheyamaginot@yahoo.fr The potential contribution of bioenergy in the global energy system is 17% - 36% of primary energy consumption. To avoid a warming higher than 2 Â °C by 2050, it is estimated that biomass should provide 60% of total renewable energy consumption. This requires amplification in efficient alternatives of energy production from renewable sources. In Mexico there is a great potential of biomass resources to produce biofuels, in which the wood is 54% with low contribution of forest plantations. The need to give greater value to forest plantations with native species is urgent in elaborating prospects for bioenergy development. In this sense, was determined the production and quality of charcoal of five native species of Tamaulipan thorn scrub, Acacia berlandieri, Havardia pallens, Helietta parvifolia, Ebenopsis ebano and Acacia wrightii. Analyzes conducted to define the quality of charcoal sampled referred to their yield, percentages of moisture content, ash, volatile material and fixed carbon of each species, based on international standards. It was found that the yield of charcoal was from 20 to 30%, corresponding to branches of A. berlandieri and trunk of A. wrightii, respectively. The percentages of moisture content, volatile material, ash and fixed carbon presented ranges of 4.25 to 4.9%, 12.29 to 22.28%, 1.68 to 6.49% and 68.26 to 81.34%. The average calorific value was 30 000 kJ kg -1 , consistent with the requirement for use for energy purposes. Key words. Bioenergetics, charcoal, timber species, thorn scrub INTRODUCTION From biomass, it is obtained bioenergy derived from solid biofuels such as wood, charcoal, agricultural residues, forest residues, pellets and briquettes; liquid biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel; and gaseous biofuels such as biogas (González, 2009). These biofuels replace part of the consumption of traditional fossil fuels and also have the advantage of being renewable and having a low impact on environmental degradation (Inter-American Development Bank, 2008). Firewood and other wood products are widely used worldwide, as they are considered a modern and clean way to generate energy (Patiño and Smith, 2008). 50% of the planet's population uses biofuel for heat (Wu et al., 2011). The forest harvesting in Mexico produces about eight million cubic meters of wood (Carrillo, 2013), from which various products are obtained, including: the sawn wood with 71.75% pulp, veneer and plywood, poles, sleepers, firewood and charcoal provide the remaining 28.25% (INEGI, 2013). These last two represent the third place in volume of extraction, with 9.9% (SEMARNAT, 2007). During forest production and mechanical wood processing as the exploitation in plantations, large volumes of waste are generated, that are not used often. These residues can be generated in the short end or during silvicultural practices and are an important part of the structure of production costs, which absorbs high extraction costs and transportation. The charcoal production is an opportunity for the recovery of waste, not only of the processing industry of wood but also for the waste generated by silvicultural