Uma importante retomada de crescimento, observada nos últimos dez anos, vem tomando conta da tendência de declínio do consumo de madeira para energia no Brasil, iniciada na metade do século passado. Diante desse fato, o uso energético continua representando o maior consumo de madeira para um fim específico no país, atingindo 61% do volume total. Em que pese tal aspecto, há ainda muito a ser conquistado, quanto à definição e à implantação de ações pragmáticas, para a real valorização desse uso no país. Neste trabalho são debatidos os aspectos quantitativos relacionado a tal aplicação, seu espaço estratégico e as demandas de definições e de ações a ela relacionadas. É ainda mostrado que antigas necessidades ainda não foram devidamente contempladas, no sentido da consolidação dessa importante e fundamental forma de aplicação da madeira, considerando-se os dias atuais, em que a utilização de fontes fósseis de energia está sendo fortemente questionada.

Most Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil aim the production of paper and charcoal, but the use of the species for lumbering, construction and extraction of essential oil has increased. Eleven species of Eucalyptus were assessed in regard to their essential oil production potential, nine never used before for commercial, essential oil extraction. Assessements were compared with Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus globulus, already explored in oil production for perfume and medical purposes, aiming to increase the availability of commercial species and the relationship between oil production and climatic conditions. Eucalyptus leaves were seasonally sampled (three months interval) for distillation and determination of productivity and chemical composition of oil - contents of oils main components. Eucalyptus viminalis showed the highest potential for cineol, and standed out among the species not yet used commercially. Influenced by soil moisture contents and air temperature, the lowest and the highest oil production happened respectively in Spring and Summer. Water deficiency in Spring caused the lowest oil production. In the Summer, on the other hand, the highest oil production was observed when temperatures were higher and no water deficiency registered. There was no climatic influence on the main oil chemical component.

The present work analyzed characteristics of charcoal used for barbecue and mainly took interest in the influence of the granulometry in the combustion process. The material have been tested for four different grain size (8, 16, 32 and 50 mm) following a combustion test called combustion index (ICOM_cv), which takes in consideration time processing, temperature generated and the mass consumed. The characterization of charcoal was done according to the following parameters, moisture, apparent density, grain density, volatile materials content, ash content, fixed carbon content and calorific value. The proofed charcoal presented standard indicators for use in barbecue and was noticed the relationship between granulometric analysis and the ICOM_cv. The 16 mm grain size charcoal sample showed the best results for combustion. By contrast, the largest grain size sample presented lower results compared to the other samples. Thus, establishing unprecedented quantitative indicators in relation to those observed in practice, regarding the influence of grain size on the efficiency of combustion of the charcoal when used for barbecue.