NOVELTY - Apparatus (1), comprises: low-temperature drying section (100) having low-temperature drying section channel with low-temperature drying section channel screw transporter; high-temperature drying section (200) having high-temperature drying section channel with high-temperature drying section channel screw transporter; torrefaction section (300) having torrefaction channel with torrefaction section channel screw transporter; cooling section (400) having cooling section channel with cooling section channel transporter; torrefaction section off-gas combustor; and thermal energy transfer system.    USE - The apparatus is useful for thermal treatment of biomass to obtain torrefied product (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The apparatus: operates autothermal at a relatively high energy efficiency; and controls the water content and the density of the torrefied biomass, and thus control pelletizability of the torrefied biomass.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Apparatus (1), comprises: a low-temperature drying section (100) comprising a low-temperature drying section channel with low-temperature drying section channel screw transporter; a high-temperature drying section (200) comprising a high-temperature drying section channel with high-temperature drying section channel screw transporter; a torrefaction section (300) comprising a torrefaction channel with torrefaction section channel screw transporter; a cooling section (400) comprising a cooling section channel with cooling section channel transporter, preferably a cooling section channel screw transporter; a torrefaction section off-gas combustor; and a thermal energy transfer system in thermal contact with the torrefaction section off-gas combustor, the torrefaction section, the high-temperature drying section and the low-temperature drying section. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) thermal treatment of biomass comprising: providing biomass; transporting the biomass through a low-temperature drying section, a high-temperature drying section, a torrefaction section and a cooling section, with at least one screw transporters; drying in a low-temperature drying process the biomass at 90-120 degrees C in the low-temperature drying section; drying in a high-temperature drying process the biomass at 150-220 degrees C in the high-temperature drying section; torrefying in a torrefying process the biomass at 200-300 degrees C in the torrefaction section to produce torrefied biomass and off-gas; cooling in a cooling process the torrefied biomass in the cooling section; combusting in a combustion process at least part of the off-gas to produce thermal energy; and transferring at least part of the thermal energy to the low-temperature drying process, to the high-temperature drying process, and to the torrefying process; and    (2) a torrefied product obtainable by the process having a water content of 2-10 wt.%, preferably 5-10 wt.%.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of the apparatus.    Apparatus (1)    Low-temperature drying section (100)    High-temperature drying section (200)    Torrefaction section (300)    Cooling section (400)