NOVELTY - Product comprises binder-free compacted torrefied biomass having an average mass density of at least 1.1-1.3 g/cm3 and 20-35 wt.% of water absorption after submersion for 24 hours in water at ambient conditions.    USE - The product is useful: as a commercial fuel source in a combustion-energy generation process and metal oxide reduction process (all claimed); as a replacement for coal in powdered coal fire energy units such as electricity-generating plants and cement manufacturing plants; for reducing metal oxides such as iron ore to produce steel; for reducing silica to form metallurgical grade silicon; and for making graphite.    ADVANTAGE - The product has improved mechanical stability, water resistance and physical properties and high density.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) making the binder-free compacted torrefied biomass with a water uptake of less than 35 wt.% after total submersion for a period of 24 hours in water at ambient conditions comprising milling uncompacted torrefied biomass having an average particle size of 0.1-10 mm, sieving the uncompacted torrefied biomass, conditioning the uncompacted torrefied biomass to increase its moisture content of 5-15%, compacting the uncompacted torrefied biomass in a compaction device without an extrinsic binder additive, and curing the compacted torrefied biomass in a post-compaction device to produce the compacted torrefied biomass that absorbs from 20-35 wt.% of water after submersion for 24 hours in water having a temperature of 25 degrees C and at ambient pressure; and    (2) a system comprising a first stabilizer/conditioner component configured to receive a torrefied biomass feedstock and apply a liquid to the torrefied biomass, a compaction device configured to receive the torrefied biomass feedstock from the first stabilizer/conditioner and capable of compacting torrefied biomass to have a mass density greater than that of the torrefied biomass feedstock, and a second stabilizer/conditioner component configured to receive the compacted torrefied biomass and thermally cure the compacted torrefied biomass.